China’s New Online ID Proposal Sparks Concerns Over Privacy and Control
Beijing, China – A new proposal by the Chinese government to issue individual online identifiers has raised significant concerns about increased social control. The National Network Identity Authentication (NNIA) app, which has already been launched in app stores, will require users to obtain a cyberspace ID composed of letters and numbers along with a ‘cyberspace certificate’ for authentication on all internet platforms in the country.
The Ministry of Public Security and the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) claim that this move is intended to ‘protect personal information security’ by minimizing the excessive collection of personal information by internet platforms. However, critics argue that the real purpose is to tighten control over individuals’ online speech and behavior.
Lester Ross, an official from the Beijing office of the US law firm WilmerHale, explained that the draft would allow government regulators to collect personal information without sharing it with internet platforms, addressing concerns over excessive data collection and privacy protection while still giving regulators access to real identities.
To obtain a cyberspace ID, users must upload their ID card, scan their face to verify their identity, and link their account with a phone number. Lao Dongyan, a law professor at Tsinghua University, criticized the proposal on Weibo, stating that the real purpose is to control online speech and behavior, and that protecting personal information is not the main goal. Her posts have since been censored.
Despite the government’s claim that the identifiers would be granted on a ‘voluntary basis,’ Lao and other critics are skeptical, citing the example of facial recognition systems that were also initially said to be voluntary. Legal experts from Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen agree with Lao’s assessment but requested anonymity.
A Beijing-based lawyer stated that the real purpose is to exert comprehensive control over individuals’ internet access rights and expression. The lawyer added that the government can already obtain personal information from internet platforms, and the ID proposal would allow direct access to online activity. The issuance of cyberspace certificates could mean that individuals’ internet access will be cut if the authorities are unhappy with their online speech or behavior.
Doubts Revealed
Online ID -: An Online ID is like a special number or code that identifies you when you use the internet, just like your school ID identifies you at school.
Privacy -: Privacy means keeping your personal information safe and not letting others see it without your permission.
Control -: Control in this context means having power over what people can do or say on the internet.
National Network Identity Authentication (NNIA) -: NNIA is a system that checks who you are when you go online, using things like your ID card and your face.
Facial recognition -: Facial recognition is a technology that can identify you by looking at your face, like how your phone might unlock when it sees your face.
Social control -: Social control means the government or authorities trying to manage or influence how people behave and what they say.
Tsinghua University -: Tsinghua University is a very famous and important university in China, like how IITs are in India.
Monitoring -: Monitoring means watching or keeping an eye on what people are doing, especially on the internet.
