CCP Pushes Internet ID: Comprehensive Monitoring and Total Suppression

Aug 01, 2024

The recent introduction of a nationwide unified internet identity authentication system by the Chinese government, known as the “Internet ID,” has sparked widespread concern and anxiety. This system will assign each internet user a unique online ID and verify their identity through a central platform. While the government claims that this move is intended to protect personal privacy and reduce online fraud, there are deeper social control intentions hidden behind it.

According to the “National Internet Identity Authentication Public Service Management Measures” released by the CCP on July 26, individuals holding valid identification documents can “voluntarily” apply for an Internet ID and certificate. The system is ostensibly designed to reduce the excessive collection of personal information by internet platforms and to protect user privacy through unified national identity authentication.

The Internet ID consists of letters and numbers linked to each person’s identity information, but personal information will not be publicly displayed. The certificate, which carries the ID, serves as an internet identity authentication credential. On the surface, this seems like a privacy protection measure, but in reality, it could become a tool for the government to further monitor citizens’ online behavior.

Following the release of this new regulation, scholars and the public reacted strongly. Tsinghua University law professor Lao Dongyan pointed out on Weibo that the Internet ID is essentially a surveillance device for each netizen, and all online activities will be monitored. She compared this move to the health code system used during the pandemic, arguing that it is part of the normalization of social control.

Shen Kui, vice dean of Peking University’s Law School, commented that this system will greatly restrict people’s online freedom, allowing the government to easily impose a complete ban on individuals across all platforms. Additionally, some legal scholars warn that this centrally managed internet ID system could grant the government excessive power, further infringing on citizens’ privacy rights and freedom of speech.

Ordinary netizens have also expressed concern and dissatisfaction. Many believe that this new regulation will pose a serious threat to their privacy rights, as future online speech and behavior may be strictly monitored by the government. Some netizens have even mocked it as a “clumsy show of democracy,” where the government appears to seek public opinion while actually strengthening control over speech.

Experts believe that the implementation of this system will further advance China’s digital surveillance network. Since the introduction of the health code during the pandemic, government monitoring of citizens’ movements has gradually become normalized. The launch of the Internet ID is an extension of these monitoring methods. Zhong Shan, a Chinese-American communications network engineer in Silicon Valley, pointed out that this system will combine with technologies like 5G and GPS to form a perfect surveillance loop.

Zhong Shan stated that the Internet ID is a product of the comprehensive surveillance during the pandemic, with its technical route integrated with health code management. Through this system, the government can monitor and manage every citizen’s online activities in real-time. Zhong believes this will greatly enhance the government’s control over society, while also potentially leading to significant privacy risks and technology abuse.

This new regulation could also have profound impacts on China’s e-commerce and social media platforms. Although these platforms have been relatively cautious in their responses to the new regulation, they may need to adjust their user management and data processing methods to comply with the new regulatory requirements as the policy is further implemented.

An executive of a Chinese live-streaming training group stated that the new Internet ID regulation might reduce the phenomenon of using different IDs across platforms, and foreigners without a national identity might also need to apply for an Internet ID to go online. This will further enhance government control and management of the internet.

The Internet ID is not just a technical and privacy issue but a deep political and social one. Through this system, the CCP government will further strengthen control over civil society, restricting freedom of speech and information dissemination. The introduction of the Internet ID marks yet another upgrade in China’s social control in the digital age.

Voice of America reported that this system could become a powerful tool for the government to crack down on freedom of speech and dissenting voices. In the future, the government could restrict individuals’ online activities by revoking their Internet ID, or even completely ban their online presence.

Conclusion

China’s Internet ID system represents another significant step by the CCP government in strengthening social control in the digital age. Although the CCP officially claims that this move is to protect privacy and combat crime, its sinister intentions of comprehensive monitoring and total suppression cannot be ignored. Under the CCP’s forceful implementation, the network freedom and privacy rights of ordinary citizens will face unprecedented challenges.