Russian search engine Yandex is now allowing users to limit search to only foreign websites (non Russian sites).
But spooks and the police had been lobbying for records to be kept of text messages and postings on social-networking sites too, as well as visits to foreign websites, and for the information to be stored on a government database.
But its filters have since become more sophisticated and can now selectively block specific pages within foreign websites, rather than making the entire site inaccessible.
Access to many foreign websites (such as Wikipedia) is restricted, and Google's Chinese site filters its results to exclude politically sensitive material.
China began by blocking a list of foreign websites, including Voice of America, human-rights organisations and some foreign newspapers.
In 1997 he joined China's first hacking group, "Green Army", leading attacks on foreign websites.
At an internet café, Chinese visitors can read foreign websites about Tibet's hierarchy-in-exile.
From August 1996 routers filtered out a list of foreign websites, including those of Voice of America, human-rights groups, Taiwan and Tibet independence advocates and some foreign newspapers.
SOPA, the House version, applies to both domestic and foreign websites, while PIPA targets foreign websites.
An online search for "fake Oakley" sunglasses will list tons of foreign websites that sell them.
Reformist party websites, the photo-sharing site Flickr, foreign blog sites and social networks such as Facebook are often blocked in Iran.
