VOA慢速英语2015 俄罗斯禁止网络数据库档案信息化

AS IT IS 2015-07-09 Russia Bans Internet Database Archive 俄罗斯禁止网络数据库档案信息化

Internet users in Russia will no longer be able to make use of a large database of stored webpages. Critics say the new restriction¹ apparently² resulted from a single website that government officials do not like.

Russia’s attorney general gave the order to block the website known as “The Wayback Machine.” The official said the country has rules that bar young people from sites that contain sexually-related material or extremist activities.

The Wayback Machine stores images of webpages from as early as 1996. It contains almost 500 billion stored images.

The Russian government says the block is needed to keep dangerous information from reaching young Internet users. But free speech activists³ argue the ban is just the latest move by the government to remove anything on the Internet it finds objectionable.

A group known as the Russian Pirate Party blames a stored webpage, called “Solitary Jihad in Russia,” for the blockage⁴. The webpage states that Islamic law “must be instituted all across the world.”

A Russian Internet agency blocked the website in June. The agency says the blockage is needed to protect boys and girls.

But the Wayback Machine still contains an earlier image of the webpage. Russian authorities said they had no choice but to ban the Wayback Machine. Rublacklist.net reports access to the site was blocked at the end of June.

The Internet Archive, a non-profit group, hosts the Wayback Machine.  The American technology company Google says the site’s database has over 35 trillion webpages. Researchers and others use it to see what websites looked like at different times in the past.

The Wayback Machine captures images of webpages from all over the world. The database also gives readers a chance to read news reports and compare them with their local media.

Over the last year, Russia has increased its censorship of the Internet.

In May, a Russian agency sent letters to the U.S.-based web services Twitter, Facebook, and Google. The letters asked for large amounts of private information on Russians who use their services. They also asked for the removal of webpages that called for “unsanctioned protests” in Russia.

The Russian government has also banned websites operated by opposition⁵ party leaders and independent media.

Recently, a member of the Russian parliament called for a complete ban on the social media site Facebook. He was critical of Facebook’s app that lets supporters of same-sex marriage add a rainbow filter to their profile pictures.

Words in this Story

censorship – n. the system or practice of censoring⁶ books, movies, letters, etc.

database – n. a collection of pieces of information that is organized and used on a computer

1 restriction   

n.限制，约束

参考例句：

• The park is open to the public without restriction.这个公园对公众开放，没有任何限制。
• The 30 mph speed restriction applies in all built-up areas.每小时限速30英里适用于所有建筑物聚集区。

2 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

3 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 blockage   

n.障碍物；封锁

参考例句：

• The logical treatment is to remove this blockage.合理的治疗方法就是清除堵塞物。
• If the blockage worked,they could retreat with dignity.如果封锁发生作用，他们可以体面地撤退。

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

6 censoring   

删剪（书籍、电影等中被认为犯忌、违反道德或政治上危险的内容）( censor的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Therefore, exhibitors shall not make use of these materials before censoring. 展商在审查前不可使用这些资料。
• The company then said it would end self-censoring search results, putting it at odds with Beijing. 随后该公司表示，将停止自我审查搜索结果，从而与中国政府发生对抗。