In the United States, every child, teenager, and adult regularly uses Wikipedia, YouTube, and Facebook, among numerous other sites. The internet is mostly open and uncensored, with the exception of parental controls. In China, most, if not all, of these types of sites are or have been blocked. Meaning you couldn't go to them unless you found a way around the web filters and firewalls that the Chinese government operates in their country. While China defends its practice of Internet censorship based on “protecting” people, heavy Internet censorship constitutes a block to free speech and impedes economic and social development in the 21st century. China says it has its own reasons for censoring the Internet. Wang Chen, minister of the Information Office of the State Council, defends China's position, saying: "There is an ever-increasing need to 'lead public opinion' on the Chinese Internet." (McCabe) The government's reasoning is the prevalence of pornography, fraud, and "rumor spreading." He also claims that this is something the Chinese people want. China has already taken measures to control the Internet. In July 2009, China shut down Internet and cell phone service in much of Xinjiang province in response to civil unrest that the government said was organized over the Internet. Paul Mozur (a reporter for the International Herald Tribune) states: "Pulling the plug on the Internet for 20 million citizens is not simply bad policy, it is a violation of human rights." To this end, China recently introduced new regulations. China has introduced new regulations requiring anyone wanting to host a website to meet government officials in person and provide personal identification. Reporters Without Borders, freedom of speech...... middle of paper ......ica. January 21, 2010. Web. March 15, 2010. .Anonymous. “Internet censorship reaches an unprecedented level.” Proquest. 24 February 2010. Web. 15 March 2010. .Mackinnon, Rebecca and John Palfrey. "Opinion: Censorship Inc. - Newsweek.com." Newsweek - National news, world news, health, technology, entertainment and more... - Newsweek.com. Newsweek. Network. March 19, 2010. McCabe, Aileen. “China Defends Internet Censorship After Google Threat.” Canada.com. Canwest News Service, January 15, 2010. Web. March 15, 2010. .Mozur, Paul. “China's Self-Destructive Censorship.” Proquest. February 16, 2010. Web. March 15, 2010. .Riley, Duncan. “Why you should be afraid of Internet censorship in Australia, even if you don't live there.” The Next Web. The Next Web, February 5, 2010. Web. March 15. 2010. .