China has apparently blocked access to Apple iTunes, perhaps in response to the publicity surrounding a pro-Tibet album that was released about a month ago and just recently made its way onto the much-trafficked website.
Produced by the Art of Peace Foundation, the album features songs from such artists as Moby, John Mayer and Alanis Morrisette, as well as a 15-minute talk by the Dalai Lama.
Reports that 40 Olympic athletes had downloaded the album apparently galled the Chinese government; early this week the site went dark.
Apple did not respond to a query from MacNewsWorld in time for deadline; however, it is reportedly investigating the shutdown.
The Chinese have said little about it as well.
"There is no direct proof" that the album triggered the blockage, Mike Wohl, executive director for the Art of Peace Foundation, told MacNewsWorld.
Most likely, though, it was, said Usha Haley, a business professor at University of New Haven and author of The Chinese Tao of Business.
"China has used the Olympics to clamp down on protesters and dissidents," Haley told MacNewsWorld, and Tibet has always been a sore point with the Chinese.
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