[scarmig]

Hmmm. I'm curious: if it turned out that private ISPs in China were blocking the NYTimes of their own volition, would that make it okay?

[jamesaguilar]

There are degrees of OK. It would be much more OK than if the government is doing it. Why? Chances are if private parties are doing it, there is some third-party that isn't, if you're willing to pay.