Internet filtering expands to partially block EdgeCast-hosted sites

Websites including those of The Atlantic and Sony Mobile are now blocked on the mainland due to partial filtering of the EdgeCast content delivery network by authorities, South China Morning Post reported, citing Internet freedom watchdog GreatFire. The blocking, which marks a significant escalation in Chinese censors’ filtering efforts, came as activist groups including GreatFire have begun using cloud services like EdgeCast’s to create mirrors of sensitive information that has been blocked on the mainland. Such cloud services, including those of Amazon, cannot be blocked en masse without risking economic consequences thanks to their supporting role in online infrastructure.