Asia Times: New rules to muzzle the Web


	January 22, 2002	atimes.com

China

New rules to muzzle the Web

BEIJING - At the end of last year, the number of Internet users in China reached 33.7 million, up 49.8 percent over the year before, says a report on the country's Internet industry. But this growing number of surfers could find the Web slim pickings after sweeping new controls take effect.

Under the new rules posted on the Ministry of Information Industry's website last week, general portal sites must install security programs to screen and copy all e-mail messages sent or received by users. Those containing "sensitive materials" must be turned over to authorities. Providers are also responsible for erasing all prohibited content posted on their websites, including online chatrooms and bulletin boards. The long list of banned content prohibits writings that reveal state secrets, hurt China's reputation or advocate ethnic separatism, "evil cults", or the overthrow of communism. Pornography and violence are also prohibited.

In a country where other major media only mouth the party line, the Internet is often a lively site of impassioned debate. The banned Falungong spiritual movement has frequently resorted to the Internet to defy a harsh two-year crackdown.

But the new regulations will create difficulties for a competitive industry trying to attract overseas investment. Many in the industry had hoped for a more liberal climate after China's entry into the World Trade Organization. However, the rules underline Beijing's resolve to keep the Web from being used to spread opposition to Communist Party rule.

Authorities have struggled to deal with the Internet since it took off in China in the mid-1990s. They want to prevent it from becoming a forum for political discontent without harming its value to business and education. China issued its first guidelines on Internet content in late 2000, requiring providers to monitor online chatrooms and bulletin boards and keep records of users' viewing times, addresses and telephone numbers.

The China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) says that the country has 12.54 million computers linked to the Internet, an increase of 40.6 percent over the same period in 2000. The report of the ninth comprehensive survey conducted by CNNIC, which started in early December, covers the general development of the Internet in China and information about Chinese Internet surfers.

According to the report, China has 277,100 "www" websites, of which 20.6 percent are Beijing-based. By contrast, those based in Qinghai and Ningxia in western China account for only 0.2 percent. In addition, Beijing also ranks highest in terms of the number of domain names - 33.8 percent of the total.

The report shows that the proportion of female surfers continues to increase and now makes up 40 percent, and the number of surfers with low education is up. Chinese surfers spend 8.3 hours on the Internet every week on average, the period from 8-11 pm being their prime surfing time and the major purpose of their surfing is to obtain information or to have fun.

(Asia Times Online/Asia Pulse/XIC)