China is planning the launch of a national digital ID, and in a sense it is surprising that it has taken this long. Beijing’s tight control on the media and robust public surveillance state are no secret. Beyond the notorious Great Firewall, Chinese internet users already have to provide an ID and phone number to register for popular platforms such as WeChat and Weibo. While the government says a digital identity system would protect online privacy, there are many who believe digital ID would only tighten and centralize the government’s control over people and their data.
The piece quotes Rose Luqiu, an assistant professor of journalism at Hong Kong Baptist University, who says “with this internet ID, your every move online, all your digital traces, will be monitored by the regulators. That will definitely impact people’s behavior.”
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Constant ubiquitous surveillance could suffocate online behavior
The NYT says the implementation of a national digital ID would see the government take over the job of identity verification from third parties. It reports that the proposal is for the system to be voluntary and that the government is taking public comments until the end of August (through www.moj.gov.cn and www.chinalaw.gov.cn). But academics and legal experts fear it will be used as a tool for social control.The piece quotes Rose Luqiu, an assistant professor of journalism at Hong Kong Baptist University, who says “with this internet ID, your every move online, all your digital traces, will be monitored by the regulators. That will definitely impact people’s behavior.”
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China releases draft case for national digital ID, raising fears of tighter social control | Biometric Update
China is planning the launch of a national digital identity system, and in a sense it is surprising that it has taken this long.
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