'Boundless' internet needs boundaries
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There is no doubt that China's internet is open to the world. There are two basic policies related to the internet in China, firstly widespread and regular usage is encouraged for individuals and organizations. Secondly the government employs a scientific approach to managing internet content.
Figures from September 2009 show there were 3.2 million websites and 181 million blogs in China. The number of netizens (384 million) is the highest of any country in the world. Netizens can express opinions, make suggestions and exchange information freely on internet. Rural areas are also covered by the omnipresent network. The internet has become an indispensible part of Chinese people's life. It performs the important function of connecting China with the world. However, the Internet Society of China's statistics also show that internet attacks from outside Chinese mainland increased 148 percent in 2008. And most of the 80,000 obscene websites reported to the China Illegal Internet Information Reporting Center come from foreign countries or are built on foreign servers.
Thus, China's internet cannot be left unmanaged. In order to build a safe internet, China must strive to create a healthy online environment, for the benefit of both China and the world.
The major internet safety challenges include obscene information which can harm teenagers, hackers' attacks, viruses and internet crimes such as fraud and theft. Groups conduct such activities deliberately. They make use of internet virtues, create chaos and obtain illegal profits. If we let the situation continue as it is now, our children and grandchildren could live in a world full of porn, violence and terror.
Applying boundaries to the "boundless" internet is not an attempt to close the door between China and the world. It means establishing relevant laws to help the internet develop healthily and orderly. In China, laws and regulations such as the Decisions of NPC Standing Committee on Safeguarding Internet Security and Internet Information Service Management Regulation clearly define illegal information (which stirs up nationality separation, heresy, illegal gambling, porn and crime), as other countries do. Such inappropriate material must be deleted timely and effectively.
It is only natural that the Internet is an open network connecting every country. So it's not enough to rely on one or two countries to guard its safety. International cooperation must be strengthened. China is working hard to set up multi-level international cooperation mechanism to form a safe internet which would be beneficial to all countries. China has just entered its 16th year of internet usage and I believe that China will find a path to properly manage the internet and promote its development at the same time.
(This post was first published in Chinese and translated by Ren Zhongxi)
