The Chinese government has announced the introduction of a new National Internet ID system. Developed in response to growing concerns about online security and control, the initiative requires online users to register using a unique government-issued identifier.
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According to The New York Times, the main goal of the new system is to combat anonymity on the Internet, which, according to the Chinese government, contributes to the spread of disinformation, fraud and cybercrime. According to officials, such a measure is “designed to increase the level of user responsibility and strengthen public order.”
As part of the new legislation, all online platforms will be required to verify the identity of users upon registration and link accounts to unique identification numbers issued by government agencies. At the same time, “the national Internet ID will reduce the excessive collection and storage of citizens’ personal information by Internet platforms based on the state identifier,” representatives of the departments said.
China has been tightly controlling information and carefully monitoring online behavior for many years. Social networks such as Weibo, Xiaohongshu and Douyin have begun to show users’ location in their posts. However, control has so far been fragmented, and full tracking of citizens requires taking into account data from different online platforms. The introduction of a single Internet ID will make this process centralized.
The reaction to this news in society was mixed. On the one hand, supporters of the new system argue that it will help improve Internet security and limit the collection of personal data by various applications. However, critics have raised concerns about potential violations of privacy and freedom of speech. Many users fear that such a system could lead to increased government control over the Internet and restrict access to information.
«With this Internet ID, every step you take online, all your digital footprints will be monitored by regulators,” said Rose Luqiu, associate professor of journalism at Hong Kong Baptist University. “It will definitely influence people’s behavior.”
Law professor Shen Kui of Peking University noted in his commentary that centralized Internet ID could make people afraid of using the Internet. “The potential risks and harms of a single Internet ID are enormous,” he wrote.
According to preliminary data, at the first stage the use of the new system will be voluntary, and the proposal is open for public comment until the end of August.