The Chinese government has consistently kept tight reins on traditional and new media to avoid potential subversion of its authority. Its strategy often involves strict media controls using monitoring systems and firewalls, shuttering publications or websites, and jailing dissident journalists, bloggers, and activists.
As a result, a ton of government bodies have been established to review and enforce laws related to information flow into, within, and out of China.
The most influential and effective monitoring body is the Communist Party’s Central Propaganda Department (CPD), which works with the General Administration of Press and Publication and State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television to ensure content promotes party doctrine.
These government review bodies usually direct content platforms to hire a moderation team to review all user comments and filter out “harmful” ones before publishing.
On Friday, June 17, 2022, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), referred to by many as China’s Internet watchdogs published new draft rules.
The new draft rules instructed social media and content platforms to review all online comments before they are published and report any illegal and immoral information they find to the authorities.
According to the notice, these new rules are designed to “safeguard national security and public interests, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of citizens.” Also, citizens can give feedback on the regulations by July 1.
In addition, the new draft rules are an update to the existing censorship system on online content regulations in China. They are designed to strengthen the review for comments.
Although the regulations are yet to be enforced, Chinese citizens have already expressed concerns that their online spaces for free speech will be further invaded.
Wu said. “Reviewing every bullet chat comment before it is published means people will not be able to have real-time interactions, which is the whole point of the function.”
“I can’t imagine what it’ll be like to see only one particular voice (of opinion). Will people think that in real life, there is only a single voice?” a Weibo user wrote.
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Photo By Solen Feyissa
