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Information/Technology - 62. page

BBC Chinese: China Blocks VPN and Proxy Providers

On January 23, BBC Chinese reported that the Chinese government has recently been blocking more and more VPN (Virtual Private Network) and Proxy service providers. [Editor’s note: VPN and Proxy servers are the primary technology channels used to bypass the government controlled Internet firewalls, such as the Chinese “Great Firewall.”] Multiple commercial VPN/Proxy service companies are reporting failures on overseas servers located in the United States and Australia. Some regular companies’ communications with foreign partners or even with their parent companies located outside China have been seriously impacted, especially small and medium sized companies. Large international companies are not heavily impacted since they typically build their own VPN infrastructure. Some Chinese officials, who would like to remain anonymous, confirmed that the government recently “upgraded” the Great Firewall to defend its “Internet sovereignty.” Not long ago, Google Mail was blocked in China as well – now the connection is largely restored. 
Source: BBC Chinese, January 23, 2015
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2015/01/150123_china_vpn_block
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Real Name Registration to be Implemented for Chinese Microblogging

China’s State Internet Information Office (SIIO) held a press conference on January 13, 2015, announcing that the office will comprehensively promote the management of real identities of Internet users. The principle will be "real name registration at the back end, voluntary registration at front end." Microblogging sites such as weibo (微博) and tieba (贴吧) are all subject to enforcement.
SIIO also announced the closure of 24 websites, 9 channels (columns), and 17 microblogging accounts, with charges that they faked government agencies or the media to publish false information and/or release illegal information involving gambling and fraud. In fact, rumors about real name registration on the Internet have been circulating for a long time. In 2014, SIIO issued "Interim Provisions on the Management of Instant Communication Tools and Public Information Services. The Provisions demanded that service providers of instant communication tools follow the principle of "real name back end and voluntary front end registration," requiring users to register their accounts after verification of their real identity information. At that time, microblogging was not subject to the regulation as it belongs to social networking media and is not one of the instant communication tools. However, some Internet service providers, such as Sina Weibo (新浪微博), have tried to implement real name registration for Internet users.
Source: China News Service, January 14, 2015
http://finance.chinanews.com/it/2015/01-14/6965736.shtml
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China’s New-generation Cloud Computing Operating System

According to an article in People’s Daily a new-generation cloud computing operating system, Cloudview 1.8, was recently launched in Beijing. Industry experts indicate that the system is the leader in cloud computing products that comply with the highest national standards. Its launch marks an important step forward in autonomous controllability.
Dawning Information Industry Co., Ltd, (中科曙光”), a state enterprise, developed the system. According to the CEO of Dawning, Cloudview 1.8 has gone through several different versions of technological upgrades in computing, storage, and networking. It can better meet the demand for the infrastructure management of cloud computing while upgrading multi-tenant management, project resource management, and service process management. It has achieved strategic integration of IT infrastructure management and business operation and has fully realized autonomous controllability.
Source: People’s Daily, December 21, 2014
http://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/html/2014-12/22/nw.D110000renmrb_20141222_3-09.htm
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Liu Yunshan on Internet Security

China plans to hold a “National Network Security Promotion Week” during the last week of November each year. Xinhua recently reported on the first one, which started on November 24 this year.

Liu Yunshan, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, head of the Communist Party propaganda work, and deputy head of the Central Internet Security and Informatization Leading Group, made a statement at the opening ceremony. According to Xinhua, Liu said, “While enjoying the convenience of the Internet, [we] should be vigilant about network attacks, network scams, and network rights violations. Internet pornography, gambling, drugs, violence, and terror, as well as rumors on the Internet, have kept coming back despite our ban. It has severely threatened [our] national security and people’s interests.”

Liu pointed out, “[We] should let people know the policy and rules of [our] Internet management, let people know the code and conduct for Internet usage, and improve people’s legal awareness so that they follow the laws to set up Internet service and follow the laws when they use it. … [We should] improve people’s ability to resist harmful information on the Internet. [We] should promote a healthy Internet culture, promote socialist core values, and improve netizen’s moral self-discipline. This will let the Internet spread a good voice and positive energy and will make the Internet space clean.”

Source: Xinhua, November 24, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-11/24/c_1113383468.htm

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BBC Chinese: The Control of Access at the World Internet Conference Got Attention

BBC Chinese recently reported on the First World Internet Conference, held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province. The conference covered global Internet governance, online business, network security, Internet anti-terrorism, and new media. China is currently the largest internet market; it has 630 million online users, who represent one-fifth of the entire Internet population. However, China is also considered one of the nations having the tightest governmental control of the Internet. Regular Chinese Internet users have no access to well-known sites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. Ironically, one of the primary sponsors of this conference is the State Council Informatization Office, which is in charge of China’s Internet censorship. At the conference, the Chinese authorities also announced the expansion of censorship to smartphone apps. For three days, the conference area was the only public place in Mainland China where people had full access to the Internet. At the same time, the government denied the applications of many international media reporters who applied to report on the conference. 
Source: BBC Chinese, November 19, 2014
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/china/2014/11/141118_internetconference
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Xinhua: Major Online Sites Signed Self-Regulation Agreement

Xinhua recently reported that the State Council Information Office held an Online Forum Reply Posts Management Conference. A total of 29 major Chinese sites jointly signed the Self-Regulation Agreement on Managing Online Replies and Comments. The purpose of the Agreement is to ensure that online opinion exchanges are reasonable and friendly. The Agreement requires the sites to ensure that real names are used for user registration and to prohibit activities that go against the basic principles set in the Constitution, such as, endangering national security, leaking national secrets, attempting to overthrow the government, undermining national unity, inciting racial hatred, breaking laws, destroying the public social order, or distributing false information. The Agreement also laid out how violators will be punished. Examples include permanent closure of an account or invocation of a government investigation. The Deputy Director of the State Council Information Office suggested that many well-known international websites have imposed detailed rules on commenting. Media self-regulation is an important element of Internet governance. 
Source: Xinhua, November 6, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2014-11/06/c_1113149824.htm
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Serious Air Pollution Affects 560,000 Square Kilometers in October

According to the Ministry of Environmental Protection, from October 1 to 24, there were 94 days of severe pollution and 27 days of serious pollution reported in 74 cities. Among those, the largest pollution spanned over 560,000 square kilometers (216,217 square miles). Regions in Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong Province and the Northeastern region were the most heavily polluted areas. For the same period in 2013, severe pollution days were 96 and serious pollution days were 33. However, in Beijing, Tianjin, Shandong Province and the nearby region, even though the number of severe pollution days went down from 24 to 21 days, the serious pollution days went up from 49 days in 2013 to 70 days in 2014.

Source: Xinhua, October 26, 2014
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2014-10/26/c_127141232.htm

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Exponential Growth in Cloud Computing Expected in Chinese IT Market

Well-known Chinese site Sina recently reported that Chinese IT experts have the strong expectation of major growth in the Chinese cloud computing market. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology just released its 2014 Cloud Computing Whitepaper, which revealed that the Chinese cloud computing market size was RMB 4.76 billion (around US$777 million) in 2013, representing a 36 percent year-over-year growth rate that was above the global average. Senior government officials at the Ministry indicated that China’s key strategy is to build large scale leading companies in the field and to establish a full-cycle industrial chain (from suppliers to retailers). Financial market analysts expressed the belief that China is ready for a major boost in the cloud computing market segment, since the business models and customers are becoming much more mature.
Source: Sina, September 23, 2014
http://finance.sina.com/bg/tech/sinacn/20140923/19581132928.html
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