China’s next Step Towards Control Of The Internet
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China is planning to set up “cybersecurity police stations” at major internet companies and for websites so authorities can move more quickly against illegal online behaviour, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security said in a statement.
The authorities have been tightening control over the domestic internet in recent years and have at times warned social media companies to guard against internet fraud, and the stealing of personal information along with pornography, gambling and drug-related internet activities, which were defined as the major issues affecting the country’s internet security and social stability.
Earlier this year, Chinese authorities already banned usernames allegedly threatening national security or promoting illegal activities. The country’s web companies already have to comply with strict censorship rules, deleting content considered offensive to the government. Continuing this line, the Chinese government published a draft cyber-security law last month consolidating its control over data, with significant potential consequences for internet service providers and multinational firms doing business in the country. According to the ministry, the new measures would allow law enforcement to react more quickly to illegal online activities as well as helping to protect personal information and prevent online crimes.
The law will strengthen user privacy protection from hackers and data resellers, but elevates the government’s powers to obtain records on, and block dissemination of, private information deemed illegal.
“As the country enters the internet age, network security has become a national security issue and social stability issue, important to economic development and a serious day-to-day working issue for citizens”, the statement said.
The statement does not specify which companies will get the new police stations, but emphasizes that online companies should “have self-discipline” and refrain from publishing illegal or sensitive content.
Cybersecurity has been a troubling issue in relations with economic partners like the United States and the European Union, which view many recently proposed rules as unfair to foreign companies. Human rights organizations are also dismayed by the new law saying that “The law will effectively put China’s internet companies, and hundreds of millions of Internet users, under greater state control”.
