Information/Technology - 92. page

Red Net, the Website for the Communist Party’s Hunan Province Committee and Hunan Provincial government, disclosed that Hunan will advance an Internet monitoring platform soon, as directed by the Ministry of Culture. The platform contains the traditional Internet Café monitoring software and a Hunan Culture Website, providing monitoring and servicing capabilities. This platform prevents users from accessing “harmful” information.

The provincial Cultural Inspection Team and municipal and county-level cultural inspection team will inspect Internet Cafés randomly and penalize businesses that haven’t installed, have stopped using or have removed the platform.

Source: Red Net, October 17, 2009
http://hn.rednet.cn/c/2009/10/17/1840624.htm

According to Xinhua, Liu Binjie, the director of the Press and Publication Administration recently signed administrative orders, No. 44, No. 45 and No. 46, announcing “The Management Methods on Journalist’ Licenses” (hereafter referred to as "the new ‘Methods’"); “Supplementary Provisions II regarding ‘The Management Methods on Foreign-Invested Distribution Companies of Books, Newspapers, & Magazines’”; and “Supplementary Provisions regarding ‘The Management Methods on the ‘Sino-Foreign Joint Distribution Companies of Audio-Video Products.’” The two supplementary regulations go into effect on October 1, 2009. The new “Methods” will become effective on October 15, 2009.

The new “Methods” have strengthened surveillance and regulation of journalists’ licenses. The Press and Publication Administration can suspend any journalist’s license if the journalist is under investigation by a relevant authority. 

Source: Xinhua, October 12, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newmedia/2009-10/12/content_12214718.htm 

UUCall, the self-claimed #1 provider of IP phone service in China, went suddenly dead on October 9, 2009 and has not been revived. The company’s Website was also unavailable. UUCall recorded on Baidu that it was closed down on government orders. It was directed to temporarily stop its services to allow government inspection. Insiders suggest that the government discovered that some individuals were using the IP phones to pass on Xinjiang separatist messages.

Also, Google Docs, a document sharing service provided by Google, was suspended in China recently. Most of the people use it for work-related documents. Google Docs utilizes https protocol for file transferring. China’s Great Firewall (GFW) censorship engine is unable to monitor or apply its censorship to this protocol. Therefore, China blocked Google Docs.

Sources:
1. Radio Free Asia, October 12, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/China_internet-10122009112607.html?encoding=simplified
2. Radio Free Asia, October 13, 2009
http://www.rfa.org/mandarin/yataibaodao/wangluo-10132009095407.html

The Chinese General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) recently announced regulations on Internet games. All types of foreign investments are banned in this market. The ban includes indirect control or investment into domestic companies. Domestic companies importing games are also regulated. Service providers are required to submit the games to the authorities for approval first.

Source: Xinhua, October 10, 2009.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/fortune/2009-10/10/content_12206841.htm

China recently published its 2009 Culture Blue Book: Report on the Development of Chinese Public Cultural Services.

The "Blue Book" concluded that there were major achievements in the following four public cultural service areas: the nation’s cultural industry spending reached 88.8 billion in 2008; the cultural system and policy were reformed and renovated; cultural soft power improved; cultural relic preservation reached a new level.

Source: People’s Daily, October 11, 2009
http://politics.people.com.cn/GB/1026/10171912.html

On October 8, Athens University of Economics held a grand opening ceremony for the Confucius Institute, a joint program with China’s University of International Business and Economics. This is the first Confucius Institute opened in Greece.

Source: Xinhua, October 9, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2009-10/09/content_12199193.htm

According to Xinhua on October 8th, 2009, “China Daily – U.S. Version” has become the important source for mainstream American society to get information on China. As early as 1983, the third year of its establishment, “China Daily” started its circulation in the United States. Currently, “China Daily” is preparing to launch its “European version,” “Asian Version,” and multi-language versions so as to enhance its overseas influence.

“Let the world understand China and let China into the world” has been the mission of "China Daily," China’s national daily newspaper in the English language. After nearly 30 years of development, “China Daily” has become the most frequently quoted newspaper by foreign mainstream media. The U.S. White House subscribes to “China Daily” every year. Reading “China Daily” has become part of the White House’s high-level officials’ daily work.

Source: Xinhua, October 8, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2009-10/08/content_12195288.htm

Xinhua published a report on October 8, 2009 summarizing the growth of the Chinese media:

The greater impact of the media is on people’s spirits. Professor Hu Zhifeng from Communication University of China said, “Media affect people’s perception of society, disseminate ideas on values, intervene in setting social and psychological trends and regulate social relations.”

Source: Xinhua, October 8, 2009
http://news.xinhuanet.com/politics/2009-10/08/content_12194045.htm