China’s Proposed National Internet ID – No More Free Speech…Ever

China is moving forward with a controversial proposal to implement a national internet ID system, a move that is being marketed as a way to protect online privacy and prevent fraud.

However, we know that exactly the opposite is true. This is a way to perpetrate government fraud in the form of propaganda and to identify anyone who isn’t friendly to the Chinese Communist Party and to squash them like a bug.

The proposed system would require users to obtain a “cyberspace ID” through a government app. This ID, which would involve uploading personal details, including an ID card, a face scan, and a phone number, would be used for authentication across all internet platforms. The Ministry of Public Security and the Cyberspace Administration of China claim this system will reduce the excessive collection of personal information by internet platforms, thus protecting user privacy.

However, the reality appears to be that this new system would centralize control over the internet, making it easier for the government to monitor and censor online activity. Rose Luqiu, an assistant professor of journalism at Hong Kong Baptist University, expressed concerns about the proposal, stating, “With this internet ID, your every move online, all your digital traces, will be monitored by the regulators. That will definitely impact people’s behavior.”

While the government insists that the ID system would be voluntary, critics fear it is a slippery slope towards mandatory implementation. Lao Dongyan, a law professor at Tsinghua University, compared the system to the health code app used during the Covid-19 pandemic, which tracked people’s movements. Lao Dongyan, a law professor at Tsinghua University, compared the system to the health code app used during the Covid-19 pandemic, which tracked people’s movements. She stated, “The protection of personal information is merely a pretense to make social control routine and regular.” Her posts, along with those of other critics, have been swiftly removed from Chinese social media platforms, further fueling concerns about censorship and control.

The proposal has sparked widespread debate on social media, with many users fearing that the system could eventually become mandatory. One Weibo user warned that revoking the cyber ID could be akin to a “death sentence in the cyber world.

ACZ Staff: This is the ultimate in slippery slopes. Not only would it eventually become mandatory, but other countries, seeing how convenient this makes it to identify political opposition, will adopt it as well, perhaps meaning well. For example, Israel implemented a no fly list and absolute identification of air passengers in order to protect itself from terrorists. Even though this is absolutely un-Consitutional in the U.S., our own Office of Homeland Security has adopted it, and now our every movement is tracked.

The Chinese government has long maintained tight control over the internet, with laws requiring real-name registration for mobile phones and internet services since 2010. The proposed internet ID system would take this a step further, potentially allowing the government to link every piece of online activity directly to an individual. This level of surveillance could have a chilling effect on free speech, as people become increasingly wary of expressing dissenting opinions online.

Legal scholars and internet experts have highlighted the risks associated with the national internet ID system. Shen Kui, a professor at Peking University, cautioned that such a centralized system could make people fear using the internet. He emphasized that the potential risks and harms of a unified ‘internet ID’ and ‘internet license’ are immense.

Even among the general populace, there are growing concerns. Many internet users agree that while companies might misuse personal data, the prospect of government control is even more alarming. Beijing lawyer Wang Cailiang voiced his disapproval on Weibo, stating, “Please leave a little room for citizens’ privacy.”

Legal scholars and internet experts have highlighted the significant risks associated with the national internet ID system. Shen Kui, a professor at Peking University, warned that such a centralized system could make people fear using the internet. He emphasized that “the potential risks and harms of a unified ‘internet ID’ and ‘internet license’ are immense.” Jeremy Daum, a senior fellow at the Yale Law School Paul Tsai China Center, pointed out that while the regulation appears to focus on privacy, in China, “privacy regulation is usually privacy versus other citizens and corporations rather than versus the government.”

The draft rules are open to public feedback until the end of August, but many fear that public opinion will not be enough to halt the implementation of such a draconian system. The proposed national internet ID could mark a significant step backward for internet freedom in China, making it easier for the government to monitor, censor, and control its citizens.

While China’s national internet ID proposal is presented as a measure to enhance privacy and security, the underlying intent appears to be the consolidation of government control over the internet. By monitoring and potentially censoring online activity more effectively, the government can further suppress dissent and maintain its grip on power. As the debate continues, it is clear that the concerns raised by critics are not unfounded. The move towards a national internet ID could mark a significant step backward for internet freedom in China, pushing the country further into an era of pervasive surveillance and control.