ONI Country Profi le
283
data management facilities to specifi c locations including Internet caf é s, fi nancial
centers, and entertainment areas. In recent years, the state has begun exploring realname registration as a monitoring tool. Private companies, too, are often complicit in
the state ’ s surveillance regime.
Real-name registration (through ID cards) in Internet caf é s illustrates how fi ltering
and monitoring/surveillance are complementary processes that allow the state to
manage the Internet. This is refl ected in a recent speech, “ Concerning the Development and Administration of Our Country ’ s Internet, ” delivered to the Standing Committee of the National People ’ s Congress on April 29, 2010.
106 The speaker claimed
that in order to strengthen the basic management and security of the Internet, the
state would have to implement the real-name system and improve the effi ciency in
handling harmful online information.
107
In June 2010, the Chinese government released a white paper on Internet policy
that insisted, “ The Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting the
safe fl ow of Internet information, actively guides people to manage Web sites in accordance with the law and use the Internet in a wholesome and correct way. ”
108 Following
the release of the white paper, the government began to take active steps in strengthening security through the implementation of real-name registration across the
country, including in Internet caf é s.
109
Because real-name registration removes the anonymity that allows citizens to make
public comments without fear of state sanctions, it can lead to self-censorship among
users.
110 Real-name registration policies also allow the state to track each user ’ s Internet
activities. In the summer of 2010, Internet users across cities in China were required
to swipe their second-generation identity cards through an ID scanner in order to gain
online access at Internet caf é s.
111 In September 2010, real-name registration was
expanded into the area of mobile phones so users are now required to show their
identity card to purchase a SIM card.
112
Prior to the white paper and the April 2010 speech, real-name registration had
already been implemented on some Web sites. For instance, a few leading Web portals
in China already require users to register their real names to post on message or bulletin boards. Sina requires users to register real names as well as identity cards in order
to post comments on their site.
113 Since 2005, users of student-run university discussion forums have been required to register with their real identifying information
before posting messages online.
114 In May 2010, the Chinese state was actively exploring ways to have all Internet users register their real names prior to posting on discussion forums or chat rooms.
115
In December 2009, the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC),
which operates under MIIT and is responsible for Internet affairs and China ’ s domain
name registry, announced that only businesses or organizations would be eligible for
registering domain names ending in .cn.
116 The CNNIC stated that this control would
283
data management facilities to specifi c locations including Internet caf é s, fi nancial
centers, and entertainment areas. In recent years, the state has begun exploring realname registration as a monitoring tool. Private companies, too, are often complicit in
the state ’ s surveillance regime.
Real-name registration (through ID cards) in Internet caf é s illustrates how fi ltering
and monitoring/surveillance are complementary processes that allow the state to
manage the Internet. This is refl ected in a recent speech, “ Concerning the Development and Administration of Our Country ’ s Internet, ” delivered to the Standing Committee of the National People ’ s Congress on April 29, 2010.
106 The speaker claimed
that in order to strengthen the basic management and security of the Internet, the
state would have to implement the real-name system and improve the effi ciency in
handling harmful online information.
107
In June 2010, the Chinese government released a white paper on Internet policy
that insisted, “ The Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting the
safe fl ow of Internet information, actively guides people to manage Web sites in accordance with the law and use the Internet in a wholesome and correct way. ”
108 Following
the release of the white paper, the government began to take active steps in strengthening security through the implementation of real-name registration across the
country, including in Internet caf é s.
109
Because real-name registration removes the anonymity that allows citizens to make
public comments without fear of state sanctions, it can lead to self-censorship among
users.
110 Real-name registration policies also allow the state to track each user ’ s Internet
activities. In the summer of 2010, Internet users across cities in China were required
to swipe their second-generation identity cards through an ID scanner in order to gain
online access at Internet caf é s.
111 In September 2010, real-name registration was
expanded into the area of mobile phones so users are now required to show their
identity card to purchase a SIM card.
112
Prior to the white paper and the April 2010 speech, real-name registration had
already been implemented on some Web sites. For instance, a few leading Web portals
in China already require users to register their real names to post on message or bulletin boards. Sina requires users to register real names as well as identity cards in order
to post comments on their site.
113 Since 2005, users of student-run university discussion forums have been required to register with their real identifying information
before posting messages online.
114 In May 2010, the Chinese state was actively exploring ways to have all Internet users register their real names prior to posting on discussion forums or chat rooms.
115
In December 2009, the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC),
which operates under MIIT and is responsible for Internet affairs and China ’ s domain
name registry, announced that only businesses or organizations would be eligible for
registering domain names ending in .cn.
116 The CNNIC stated that this control would