China’s first functional connection to the internet was in 1994. This was done using a 64K international dedicated circuit provided by Sprint Corp (Taneja and Wu, 2011). However, the country did not enjoy the fruits of the internet since its government started regulating internet services and contents in 2000 (Taneja and Wu, 2011). At this time, access to the internet was still considered a luxury since only top elite mostly found within research institutes, foreign companies, and state organs owned it. China was not only trying to strengthen its ideological control over the new technology, but also trying to take aggressive role in expanding all internet information economy and infrastructure (Taneja and Wu, 2011).
The consequences of technological development includes an increasing Chinese online population and growth in domestic websites from 564 to 2.68 million (Taneja and Wu, 2011). These factors have also resulted to China being recognized as the country with the largest online population worldwide. This technological advancement also resulted to China implementing one of the most sophisticated internet censorship, which include content censorship over local websites and access to blockage targeting websites outside the Chinese jurisdiction. Locally, internet censorship in China is implemented to restrict access to websites that arguably promote immoral behavior and those that threaten the Chinese government.
While restricting access to immoral internet content is justifiable, the latter has raised various issues both locally and internationally. The Chinese government view information and conversations on political, ethnic and religious issues as potential challenges to its regime. As such, it has dubbed such information dangerous to its “national security” (Taneja and Wu, 2011). It is without doubt that China will continue to sensor internet usage for this reason. However, internet has developed to become a significant venture. With innovations such as IPv6 which allow more people to connect to the internet and conduct more online businesses as well as develop advanced websites, means China’s “great firewall” will fail to isolate internet users eventually. The question, however, is how this affect Chinese internet user does?
Internet censorship in China and who it affects
Most people will argue that internet censorship affects those who employ technology for illegal deals. The internet has grown to become everybody favorite place, with major companies, journalists, and educators heavily relying on its usage. Censoring the internet implies that the Chinese government controls almost everything that journalists publish, as well as who they interview, what educational organizations publish in their books, the number of children that one can have, the statistics that the public is required to know and the TV programs that people can watch (Amnesty.org, 2008).
Censoring all information channels deny people the right to know what is going on around them, their neighborhood, and even the world. Considering that internet users are more than just a particular group, it is noteworthy that the Chinese government wants to silence oppositions and dissent using harmony and social stability as reasons (Amnesty.org, 2008). Internet censorship in China is mainly used to suppress all internet users including ethnic minorities such as Tibetans, Spiritual practices such as Falun Gong, supporters of democracy, as well as lawyers who advocate for human rights and foreign media that is generally viewed as independent (Taneja and Wu, 2011). Researchers have argued that the Chinese government is restrictive of the use of internet because they are scared that significant transparency will expose human right abuses in the country.
Effect of Internet Censorship on media use
Various media outlets in China are shut down regularly with journalists being beaten, jailed or tortured because of how they use the internet. Up to date, the Chinese government has jailed more than 30 journalists and 50 ordinary internet users (Amnesty.org, 2008). According to the Committee which Protects Journalists, China is the leads in the entire world as far as jailing journalists is concerned (Amnesty.org, 2008). For instance, two Chinese journalists Shi Tao and Huang Jingiu and a pro-democracy activist, Yang Tongyan were jailed for the content of their emails (Amnesty.org, 2008).
Editors are also severely affected by China’s internet censorship with most of them arguing that they frequently receive lists of subjects which have been banned. These include unofficial religions, corruption in judiciary, workers striking or the government’s internal working. In addition, printing media have been operating under penalty points system under which they risk being closed down whenever they lose points (Wang, 2009). Reporters without borders have critically argued that China has blocked BBC together with other international channels from being used in the country. It is, therefore, proper to argue that the internet has emerged as everybody’s place and restricting people on its use make their work much difficult.
Effect of Internet Censorship on China’s internet users’ habits
While most people will argue that internet censorship helps to eradicate immorality over the internet, “network authoritarianism” according to Global Voice co-founder Rebecca MacKinnon asserts that censorship influences the way Chinese internet users interact with the internet (Wang, 2009). According to a study conducted by Northwestern University, blocking internet usage in China is the same as isolating Chinese internet users (Wang, 2009). In 2010, Hilary Clinton, the United States secretary of state, warned against censoring the internet. Linton argued that this could lead to “new information curtain”, which is similar in many ways to the Iron Curtains that was used to separate the East and the West during the Cold War (MIT Technology Review, 2013).
These words were mostly used to criticize the Chinese internet censorship, which has been advanced, and now prevent most Chinese internet users in the country from accessing websites such as Facebook, Twitter and Wikipedia. However, while the government of China has managed to prevent most people from the country from using internet for various functions, Chinese people outside the country are developing sites which can be used without the government noticing. For instance, people are coming up with software, which are capable of bypassing various firewalls, allowing them to visit some websites without being noticed.
Software like Tor has been developed to protect people’s privacy through the internet. What make matters worse is the fact that such software are free and can be downloaded anywhere in the world. Therefore, while the Chinese government is working hard to prevent its people from accessing some websites, many people are able to access these websites through such tools. According to Poeter (2012), China is working hard to put clamps down to anonymous internet usage which according to research is intensifying their behavior online. Bypassing internet usage regulations using anonymity software is becoming a common thing with most people using such software for illegal activities.
Internet censorship and its effect on internet users’ privacy
Privacy is one thing that most people advocate for, especially when it comes to the internet. In fact, numerous organizations have advocated for privacy, which is connected to freedom of using the internet. According to research, internet users in China lack privacy and freedom to share information which can be used to access democracy (Lum, Figliola and Weed, 2012). While it might be necessary to cub internet immorality, China’s great wall is crushing dissent and, therefore, denying internet users their rights (Wang, 2009).
The Chinese government like all other governments is struggling to balance its need to deal with serious issues like security, child safety and hate speech for its citizens. However, with the great wall, these concerns are serving as opportune pretext to engage in censorship of the internet resulting in violation of rights and privacy of internet users (Wang, 2009). Internet users in China lack the freedom of speech and expression as most of the things they do over the internet are screened. This concept has also been highlighted by Lum, Figliola and Weed (2012) arguing that internet censorship acts as a barrier between internet users and their freedom of speech.
Currently, internet is used as the main communication channel, with most people favoring it because of the anonymity and convenient communication channels it provides. However, users in China are not allowed to benefit from these advantages of the internet with the great wall acting as a barrier between them. In 2008, various companies including Yahoo, Google, and Microsoft came up with guidance that promoted awareness, due diligence, as well as transparency regarding the actions of ICT companies and their effects on human rights, especially in countries that frequently violate the rights of internet users to freedom of expression and privacy (Lum, Figliola and Weed, 2012).
According to study, freedom of speech is rooted in the structure of modern communication technologies. Everyone has the right to express his or her opinions, and in any form or media. Therefore, by denying the Chinese people the right to express themselves online is denying them their freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is oppressed by tapping into people’s internet accounts or activities. The main reason why most activists are against internet censorship is because of how it oppresses the privacy of internet users which denies them their freedom of speech and to express themselves.
While this emerge as a pressing issue, the Chinese government is not interested in conforming to the expression of freedom of speech, dissent and press that have been espoused by Marx, Mao, as well as the country’s own active constitution (Wang, 2009). The government is willing to apprehend any individual, who will be found violating internet policies by punishing him or her severely.
Conclusion
References
Amnesty.org. (2008, 3 27). Who is affected by internet censorship? Retrieved from Amnesty.org: http://www.amnesty.org.au/china/comments/10949/
Lum, T., Figliola, P. & Weed, M. (2012). China, Internet Freedom, and U.S. Policy . Congressional Research Service.
MIT Technology Review . (2013, 5 21). How the Great Firewall of China Shapes Chinese Surfing Habits. Retrieved from MIT Technology Review : http://www.technologyreview.com/view/515056/how-the-great-firewall-of-china-shapes-chinese-surfing-habits/
Poeter, D. (2012, 12 28). China Puts Clamps on Anonymous Internet Activity. Retrieved from PC Mag: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2413641,00.asp
Taneja, H. & Wu, A. (2011). How Does the Great Firewall Of China Affect Online User Behavior? . Internet Blockage and User Behavior .
Wang, X. (2009). Behind The Great Firewall: The Internet And Democratization In China . ISBN.
