Information/Technology - 75. page

An Internet research group under of the Communications University of China issued a report on its study of Chinese Internet opinion that covered the first half of 2011. The report concluded that micro-blogs have become the second largest source of public opinion after news media reports. The conclusion is based on an analysis of the source, geography and subject matter of over a thousand popular topics on the Internet. Forums, blogs, and news websites used to be the most important sources of public opinion. In the first six months of 2011, 18% of public opinion originated from micro-blogs. In those six months, public opinion on the micro-blogs tended to focus consistently on food safety issues. More opinions and information came from developed provinces with Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang being the top three. Hunan Province, Chongqing City and Hubei Province showed rapid growth. According to the report, news media remain the largest source of public opinion but their dominance has weakened.

Source: Xinhua, July 18, 2011
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-07/18/c_121684906.htm

An article from Study Times advocates that the government establish a mechanism so it is the first one to release information during major social unrest. For example, dedicated spokespersons should be appointed for major social unrest, including those representing the government, Party committees, enterprises, and other trades. “Their role is to timely and appropriately release factual information. Specific requirements include that the information must be objective, speak along the same lines, and become the authority for the dissemination channel.” The article states that the government must approve the content to be released prior to its release. After it is published for the first time, there should be follow-up information according to developments and the disposition of the social unrest.

Source: Study Times, July 18, 2011
http://www.studytimes.com.cn:9999/epaper/xxsb/html/2011/07/18/06/06_44.htm

According to China Manned Space Engineering Online, China recently successfully launched a second data relay satellite named Tian-Lian One-02. The satellite is to be used for China’s first space docking mission planned for the second half of the year. The satellite was developed by China Academy of Space Technology, under China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. This new satellite works in conjunction with the Tian-Lian One-01 satellite, launched three years ago, to form a network to support space data relay and to provide monitoring and control services. The Tian-Lian One-01 satellite served the manned space mission Shenzhou VII to increase the coverage of monitoring and control services from 15% to 50%. 

Source: China Manned Space Engineering Online, July 12, 2011
http://www.cmse.gov.cn/news/show.php?itemid=1485

According to a report released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the users of Chinese social media continue to increase, while the number of social media is going through adjustment. “In 2010, the number of users of Chinese social media websites reached 235 million, an increase of 60 million over 2009. Current usage exceeds 50%; half of Chinese Internet users use social media. The U.S. Facebook has become the No. 1 global social media. While there are advantages for news reporting and social mobilization on social media websites, social media presents serious challenges to national security and citizen’s privacy.”

Source: People’s Daily, July 12, 2011
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1026/15135876.html

China’s Ministry of Land and Resources released new regulations applying to foreigners who conduct cartographic activities in the country. Foreign cartographic work can only take two forms: a joint venture with a domestic company or a one-time job such as cartography preparing for state-approved events. Foreigners are forbidden from performing activities such as geodetic surveys, aerophotographical surveys, administrative district boundary surveys, hydrographic surveys, topographic mapping, world and national administrative mapping, provincial-and-below level administrative mapping, national school mapping, 3-D mapping, and electronic navigational maps. 

For Internet mapping activities, the regulation has even stricter requirements. A joint venture is a must and the foreign share must be less than half. The report mentioned that, in recent years, a great deal of national security related information has been leaked via Internet mapping.

Source: People’s Daily, June 10, 2011
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1026/14863757.html

China Internet Network Information Center (CINIC) recently shut down 55 websites that “engage in illegal online promotions.” The operation was based on public tip-offs sent to the China Internet Illegal Information Reporting Centre (CIIRC), a self-claimed non-governmental organization that lists “receiving public reports and complaints about illegal and harmful information on the Internet within the border of China” as one of its key functions. 

On May 24, 2011, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China issued a release indicating that, from January to April, the net increase in China’s mobile phone accounts was 41.386 million, bringing the total number of mobile phone accounts to 900.389 million. Among them, 3G accounts increased by 20.521 million, reaching 67.572 million.

Source: Xinhua, May 24, 2011.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2011-05/24/c _121452959.htm 

BBC Chinese News reported that, on May 18, 2011, eight New York residents filed a lawsuit against the Chinese government and China’s biggest search engine vendor Baidu for blocking pro-democracy Internet content. The suit asks for US$16 million in damages. It is believed that this is the first time a lawsuit against a company has also included the Chinese government. Chinese spokesperson Jiang Yu commented on the lawsuit, saying that the Chinese government follows worldwide common rules to manage the Internet and foreign courts do not have jurisdiction over this matter. Baidu, a NASDAQ-100 index company, proactively filters “sensitive words” based on the Chinese government’s requirements. China also blocks popular websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Source: BBC Chinese, May 19, 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/zhongwen/simp/chinese_news/2011/05/110519_baidu_lawsuit.shtml