Tighter Internet Control for China with New Internet Regulator

The flow of information in China is tightly controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. Now that control will probably become even tighter. State-run Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday, a new office for regulating information in the internet has been established.

The State Internet Information Office is at the highest level of its kind in the country. It’s a unit of the State Council—a cabinet-like organization that runs the day-to-day operations of the Communist Party. The office will supervise online content management, including news, online gaming, and Communist Party propaganda. It has the authority to investigate and punish violators of online content rules.

Many fear it marks a tightening of China’s cyberspace. Recently, netizens have complained about increased censorship by the regime.

[Anhui Netizen]:
“My blog was blocked a week ago. I only reposted a blog by Han Han titled ‘Goodbye AI Weiwei.’ I didn’t write anything myself. A few hours later, my blog was blocked.”

Former editor of Shannxi TV Ma Xiaoming believes the new high-level office means the regime is dedicating more resources to suppress freedom of information.

[Ma Xiaoming, Former Editor of Shannxi TV]:
“Internet monitoring is now under high management, this means it’s strengthening suppression of the people, monitoring the public and invading the rights of the public.”

Since anonymous online calls for Middle East style Jasmine Revolutions began in February, the Chinese regime has cracked down on more dissidents. Numerous rights lawyers and activists have been arbitrarily detained, including prominent artist Ai Weiwei who’s still missing.