Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to tighten the country’s internet regulations with a pledge on May 7 to increase controls over search engines and online news portals, CNBC reported. The increased security implementations are the latest in President Jinping’s attempts to oversee strict Communist Party control over internet content in China.
One of the President’s top priorities for China is “cyber sovereignty”. He has also reasserted the ruling Communist Party’s ability to limit and guide online discussion in the country. China’s five-year cultural development and reform plan released by the party and State Council, or Cabinet, aims for the “perfecting” of laws and rules related to the internet.
According to the plan, carried by the official Xinhua news agency, there will be a qualification system for people working in online news. Without sharing specific details, it said, “Strike hard against online rumors, harmful information, fake news, news extortion, fake media and fake reporters.”
Chinese media must follow the Communist Party by upholding the correct guidance on public opinion and promote “positive propaganda”. The scope of the Chinese government’s control over the internet is evident by the fact that many foreign websites, such as Google and Facebook, are blocked.
Just recently the Chinese government introduced tighter rules for online news platforms and network providers. Regulators claim that the controls are necessary since the country faces growing security threats, and say the rules are implemented in accordance with the law.
The plan aims to “Strengthen and improve supervision over public opinion.” It also calls for more effort to be put into promoting China’s view and cultural soft power globally, but no further details were provided.
