China’s new cyber policy: Obey Xi and ban global ‘disinformation’
Tom Rogan
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The Chinese Communist Party has unveiled a new white paper on the rule of law on the internet. The short version: it’s all about obedience to the great leader Xi Jinping, stupid.
Deputy Director of the State Council Information Office Cao Shumin explained that China’s internet policy is focused on “embodying the interests of the people, reflecting the wishes of the people, safeguarding the rights and interests of the people.” But Cao noted that the law must always “uphold the party’s overall leadership over the rule of law work on the internet. Implement the requirements of the party governing the internet, and implement the party’s leadership throughout the entire process.” This is necessary to “ensure that internet rule of law work is always advancing along the correct political direction.”
Translation: We’re all about “reflecting the wishes of the people,” just so long as those wishes align perfectly with those of Xi Jinping and the Central Committee.
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What does this mean in practice? For one, the white paper calls for new global governance structures with which to regulate internet content around the world. Beijing’s Western-focused Global Times newspaper explains why this is necessary.
“There are many inflammatory pictures or videos circulated on the internet,” an editorial on Thursday observed, “and it’s difficult to distinguish what’s true and what’s false. Especially in the context of information warfare, cyberspace needs to be managed based on the law.” The newspaper then endorsed U.S. government efforts to fight “disinformation.” It observed that “Washington has introduced several bills opposing fake news and alternative facts, and the world has realized the importance of enacting legislation over this matter. If the internet is not governed by law, there will be too many hidden dangers, ranging from personal life and property safety to social stability and national security.”
Pay special attention to that “social stability and national security” consideration. For the Chinese Communist Party, absolute obedience to the party is a prerequisite for all domestic speech online. It’s a reality underlined daily by the tens of thousands of Communist Party censors who restrict their fellow citizens’ discourse. The consequences to those who commit crimethink are disappearance, imprisonment, or worse. So don’t dare question Xi’s service in “safeguarding the rights and interests of the people.”
And the Communist demand that the speech of foreigners online also show deference to Xi is incredible. Don’t take my word for it, either — just look at what they say openly!
Put another way, it might be in America’s interest to avoid Xi’s engagement on internet rule of law. Just as his minions use the internet to steal whatever they deem valuable, they want to build a new internet that subjugates any thought deemed undesirable, wherever in the world the thinker happens to live.