According to a news report in today’s edition of Chongqing Commercial Daily, excerpted on Sina.com, police in the municipality of Chongqing have demanded all Internet users register before October 30 or face fines and denial of web access. Danwei.org has already summarized the story. The article’s lead paragraphs follow [Chinese here]:
Chongqing Commercial Daily
July 7, 2006
It must be completed by October 30, and those who do not carry it out will be fined 3,000 yuan and their computers shut down [Internet access denied] for six months.
Going online in your own home also now requires registration with the Public Security Bureau. The Chongqing Public Security Bureau’s notification on strengthening management of international Internet [user] records was approved yesterday by the city government’s legislative affairs office, taking effect on the day of announcement. Those who do not carry out [the regulations] will, for light violations, receive warning from the police, and in serious cases computers will be shut down [Internet access denied] for a period of six months.
The “Notification on Strengthening Management of International Internet [user] Records”, put out by the Chongqing Municipal Public Security Bureau, demands all companies [work units] and individuals connected to the Internet must formally register, including personal users connected by dial-up or cable … According to an expert at the Ministry of Information Industry, in the past only those setting up personal websites needed to register but ordinary people connecting the Internet did not need to register.
“So is everyone who goes online a criminal?” asked one netizen responding on Sina.com. “Do they think that by [requiring] registration they can control criminal online behavior? … Those who made this policy should study those portions of the Constitution dealing with the people’s basic rights. So can you trample on people’s basic rights just to control criminal behavior?”
“Registration, hey that’s OK,” said another. “Who am I afraid of if I haven’t done anything wrong? It’s just like giving your ID when you check into a hotel. There’s nothing wrong with it. Those who are afraid are the ones going online in an unhealthy way. I’m in favor!”
[Posted by David Bandurski, June 7, 2006, 5:12pm]
