Information/Technology - 74. page

Study Times, the publication of the Party School of the Central Committee of the CCP, published an article on April 16, 2012, titled “Consciously Resist Rumors on the Internet.” According to the article, rumors related to historical contradictions and people’s resentment spread easily among Internet users and may eventually lead to mass action. Therefore, Internet users must not start rumors, believe rumors, or spread rumors. Meanwhile, the Chinese authorities have developed a mechanism to use legal means to punish Internet rumor mongers. Internet users must be aware of the laws and regulations that cover the punishment of Internet users who spread rumors on the Internet.

Source: Study Times, April 16, 2012
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2012/04/16/01/01_36.htm

On April 8, 2012, Guangming Daily reported on a two week random survey conducted in 2011 on 1800 professional workers and students. The survey projected that over 26 million Chinese people suffer from various levels of depression syndrome. Over 50 percent of those surveyed had symptoms of depression syndrome or might have the syndrome. Of those surveyed, 90 percent did not realize that they had depression. The study suggested that depression could become the second largest deadly disease. By 2020, 2.6 to 3.9 million people who suffer from depression in China might choose to end their lives because of it.

Source: Guangming Daily, April 8, 2012
http://legal.gmw.cn/2012-04/08/content_3923808.htm

Xinhua recently reported that, based on the Communication Industry’s data released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, by the end of February 2012, China had 1.007 billion mobile phone users. The total number of all telephone users was 1.29 billion. It is expected that the total will rise to 1.3 billion by the end of March. Among the 1 billion mobile phone users, 144 million are on the 3G network. According to past statistics, the number of Chinese cellphone users reached 800 million in June 2010 and 900 million in April 2011. Since this new landmark was achieved in February 2012, it seems the Chinese cellphone market is growing at a rate of 100 million every 10 months.

Source: Xinhua, March 31, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/tech/2012-03/31/c_122912215.htm

China Youth Daily recently conducted a survey of 12,234 people from 31 provinces and regions about the ticket prices for culture oriented leisure events. Of those surveyed, 85.8 percent complained that the prices for movies, stage plays, and concerts were too high. Of those who were interviewed, 52.6 percent were born after the 1980s; 26.7 percent were born after 1970s; and 84.8 percent are currently employed.

The survey results showed that 74.8 percent rarely have any culture oriented leisure activities. Of those surveyed, 86.1 percent believe that those activities shouldn’t be luxury items and 93.4 percent would like to see prices lowered; 71.2 percent are concerned that the high ticket prices will keep ordinary people away; 64.8 percent of those surveyed believe that when cultural events are overpriced, the pricing structure is at fault; 49.7 percent think it is due to high production costs; 47.7 percent think that the government didn’t provide funding or support; 73.7 percent suggest having more cultural activities for the public that are tailored toward the general public.

A comparison between the movie ticket prices in the U.S. and in China showed that low to middle class people in the U.S. with a monthly income of US$3,000 would spend about 0.2 percent or US$7.94 on one movie ticket. In China, people who make 3,000 yuan (US$476.10) a month would spend 2 percent of their monthly income or 60 yuan (US$9.52) on one movie ticket.

Source: China Youth Daily, March 29, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newmedia/2012-03/29/c_122905861_2.htm

Zhang Jianhen, Vice President of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) disclosed that, during the 12th Five Year plan, China will launch 100 space shuttles and satellites averaging 20 launch missions each year. One of them is Shenzhou No. 9, which is scheduled for a June to August launch this year. The spacecraft will carry three astronauts and implement China’s first space rendezvous. China will also launch 6 BeiDou （COMPASS）Navigation Satellite dishes in 2012. Their launch will mark the completion of China’s navigation system, which will cover China and the nearby regions.

According to Zhang,  CASC’s total revenue for 2011 was 100 trillion yuan and its total assets exceeded 200 trillion yuan. It plans to reach over 250 trillion yuan in revenue by the end of the period of the 12th Five Year plan.

Source: China News Review, March 12, 2012
http://gb.chinareviewnews.com/doc/1020/3/7/5/102037591.html?coluid=45&kindid=0&docid=102037591&mdate=0312085324

Guangming Daily published an article on how new media have become an important battleground for the proliferation of conflicts and an arena for the promotion of socialist core values. Through their popularity and due to people’s widespread participation, the new media can awaken people’s socialist values, internalize such values so that they become a popular faith, and reach out to more and more people. Further, the new media represent the best weapon to safeguard socialist core values in the face of the influx of Western capitalist values. As mainstream media, they can lead public opinion.

Source: Guangming Daily reprinted by Qiushi, March 5, 2012
http://www.qstheory.cn/wh/jsshzyhxjztx/201203/t20120305_142951.htm

Study Times published an article discussing the major challenges that China faces in the area of “national information security.” According to the article these challenges include the following. The general public has a serious lack of awareness of information security. Insufficient regulations and policies mean there is a lack of adequate mechanisms to protect the development of information. An international monopoly on cyber security technology deprives China of opportunities to obtain the high tech necessary to bring domestic technology up to speed, thus creating a serious vulnerability in national information security. Malicious attacks against information and transmission systems have seriously violated China’s national information security. An insufficient investment of capital and human resources in information security has led to an increase in threats to national information security.

Source: Study Times, February 27, 2012
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2012/02/27/07/07_31.htm

Qiushi published an analysis on the subject of state control and the behavior of Chinese Internet users. “At present, a number of Chinese Internet users play a destructive role. Sometimes, negative, extreme, shallow or one-sided information, along with bad sentiments, spread very rapidly on the Internet, exerting a strong destructive power.” As a result, when a social issue escalates on the Internet, serious conflict quickly develops and people become very emotional, forming an online “tyranny of the masses.” The analysis found that laws and regulations were insufficient, that implementation was ineffective, and that there was a lack of law enforcement on the Internet. The article recommended promulgation and implementation of additional laws and regulations to penalize those users who do not abide by the law. “If the online behavior of some users adversely impacts the lives of others or if they break the law, the user must bear the corresponding social and legal consequences of their behavior.”

Source: Qiushi, February 14, 2012
http://www.qstheory.cn/zz/shzyzzzd/201202/t20120214_138512.htm