Information/Technology - 80. page

Xinhua reported that, on November 11, 2010, China’s Internet Security Protection Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security and the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau held a joint meeting on Strike Hard actions on Internet control.

An official from the Internet Security Protection Bureau said that the momentum of large-scale dissemination of harmful information has been effectively curbed because of the ongoing Strike Hard actions that the public security departments conducted. However, some sites, especially the medium and small websites in the IDC (Internet Data Center), still have illegal and harmful information on them.

The Public Security Departments will further increase the strength of the Strike Hard actions and establish a harmonious Internet environment.

Source: Xinhua, November 11, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-11/11/c_12764689.htm

Wang Chen, Deputy Chief of the Central Propaganda Department of the CCP, Director of the Central Outreach Office of the CCP, and Director of the State Council Information Office, recently gave a speech at the Tenth Chinese Online Media Forum. Wang observed that there are four new trends in the development of the Internet: 1) The Internet is quickly becoming an important media channel; 2) The Internet is rapidly penetrating the social economy and this means better administration is needed; 3) Multiple information networks are merging, such as the trend to merge the computer, TV, and cellphone; 4) Internet technology is upgraded very frequently, and new service models are introduced very frequently. Wang also pointed out that, in order to cope with the new trends, it is very important to direct public opinion, to control the “battlefield,” and to regulate the “dissemination of information via the Internet.” 

Source: Xinhua, October 27, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-10/27/c_12706129.htm

China’s State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping announced on October 21, 2010, that China officially opened its own “World Map,” which was “China’s self-developed Web Map Service Website.” However, an Internet user pointed out on his blog that the “World Map” probably uses the data from the U.S. company DigitalGlobe, which offers the same image data that Google Maps uses.

On October 24, someone from China’s State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping responded that what the so called "world map" intellectual property rights refers to is the "service software," and not the "data resources." The data resources are from a commercial satellite.

The above news was reprinted on ChinaGate. BJNews published the original news report on October 25, 2010.

Source: ChinaGate, October 25, 2010
http://news.wenxuecity.com/messages/201010/news-gb2312-1195725.html

According to Xinhua, the General Administration of Press and Publications (GAPP), the Chinese government’s administrative agency that has the legal authority to screen, censor, and ban any print, electronic, or Internet publication in China, issued a notice October 28, 2010. The notice stated that, unless approved, no reporters or staff members of a newspaper or periodical are allowed to have their websites either in the name of the newspaper or periodical or in the name of the reporters of the newspaper or periodical.

GAPP has recently punished seven media organizations in China. Its actions included closing news stations and firing journalists.

Source: Xinhua, October 28, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-10/28/c_12713658.htm

The spokesman for the China Manned Space Project announced on October 27 that the manned space station project has officially started. A large scale, national level manned space laboratory is expected to be established around the year 2020. The project is divided into two phases. Phase one is to launch a space laboratory before 2016. Phase two is to launch the Core Cabinet and the Lab Cabinet to complete the space station by assembling the two together “in-orbit.” The spokesman suggested that the project will be built on top of current space research accomplishments. According to the plan, the first unmanned spacecraft docking experiment will take place in 2011.

Source: Xinhua, October 27, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-10/27/c_13577809.htm

The Public Opinion Research Lab of Shanghai at Jiao Tong University recently released a report that indicated that microblogging, as a new communication channel, is having an impact in influencing public opinion. The report took a look at the hot topics of the top 20 websites in the third quarter of 2010 and analyzed the coping abilities of local governments, companies, and individuals. Indexes included communication speed, communication skills, and communication effectiveness. The research showed that microblogging is becoming an effective channel for companies and individuals to provide information. In some instances, microblogging played a very important role in spreading messages. The report also found that government agencies were weak in terms of controlling communication and releasing information during crises.

Source: China News Service, October 20, 2010
http://www.chinanews.com.cn/it/2010/10-20/2598464.shtml

At the time of The Third China Space Technology Forum, the Chinese Academy of Space Technology (CAST) revealed China’s plan for exploring Mars. The plan is mainly based on the technologies used in the Chang-E Moon Satellite Platform. According to CAST experts, the Chinese plan reached a pretty high level compared to Mars exploration plans developed outside of China in recent years. Experts also indicated that the Chinese space activities targeting Mars will increase China’s power in the deep space technology race and shorten the distance from leading countries. This is considered the mission of the future Chinese space technology development.

Source: Xinhua, October 21, 2010
http://news.xinhuanet.com/2010-10/21/c_13569005.htm

On October 23, 2010, World Journal, a Taiwan based Chinese newspaper, reported that China is making a full out effort across China to provide a government-backed map service called “Map World” in order to compete with Google Earth. 

The Chinese mapping data was considered the confidential information of the military. "Map World" has a strong background. According to the State Bureau of Surveying and Mapping, the project is backed and supported by the Ministry of Land Resources, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of State Security, the State Secrets Bureau, the PLA Secrets Office, the PLA’s General Staff Department, the Armed Police Headquarters, the Surveying and Mapping Bureau under the PLA’s General Staff Department, and other security and intelligence agencies.

Source: World Journal, October 23, 2010
http://www.worldjournal.com/view/full_hnews/10013300/article-%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B%E6%8E%A8%E5%A4%A9%E5%9C%B0%E5%9C%96-%E5%90%91%E8%B0%B7%E6%AD%8C%E5%9C%B0%E7%90%83%E5%AE%A3%E6%88%B0?instance=noon