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By Root 523 0

of the private sector, the Chinese state has been largely successful to date in guiding the broad political impact of Internet use... the state is effectively controlling the overarching political impact of the Internet.”147 Another study of the Chinese government’s campaign against the use of the Internet by Chinese dissident groups reached a similar conclusion. The government combined low-tech solutions—the use of informers, human surveillance, and regulations—with high-tech ones—the use of software to block Web sites and e-mail messages, the hacking of foreign sites liosting dissident publications, and web patrol. As a result, “no credible challenges to the regime exist despite the introduction of massive amounts of modern telecommunications infrastructure,” even though the regime’s ability to subdue the information revolution remains doubtful in the long term.148

Reports in the Chinese media, as well as MPS publications, also provide useful revelations of the extensive efforts undertaken by the Chinese government to assert its control over the Internet—and over the activities of more than 80 million Chinese Internet users, as of 2003.149 The Chinese government recognized early on the serious political threat posed by the introduction of the Internet. In an internal document issued in October 2000, the MPS bluntly warned:

Because the Internet can hold large amounts of information, transmit it quickly, and extend its coverage broadly, it has the characteristics of a high degree of openness and interconnectedness. The West is using the Internet as a means of political expansion, ideological penetration, and cultural aggression ... Our enemies inside and outside our borders have set up forums, Web sites, and home pages on the Internet and spread a large quantity of reactionary articles. They conduct reactionary propaganda, instigation, and penetration activities... They use the Internet to establish illegal groups and parties, recruit members, maintain secret contacts, and instigate incidents... Our struggle against hostile forces and elements on the Internet will be long term and complicated. Strengthening the secure management of information networks... and maintaining the political stability of our society have become important and urgent tasks for the public security apparatus.150

The MPS established its Bureau for Supervising the Security of Public Information Networks (BSSPIN) (gonggong xinxi wangluo anquan jiancha ju) in 2000. The missions of this new division were to “monitor and control the net-based activities of hostile organizations and individuals in and outside Chinese borders; timely report various information and trends regarding social and political stability; strengthen Internet patrol; [and] closely watch developments on the Internet.” The directive instructed:

[A]fter reactionary Web sites and harmful content are discovered, Internet monitors must work with other relevant authorities and take effective measures to block, filter, and clean up [such contents] ... In order to strengthen our control of the net, [we] must establish secret forces and Internet liaison officers on some important Web sites and the networks of important institutions. They can supply the public security organs intelligence and technical support in the struggle on the Internet... Any public or media reporting of the means of detecting [subversive activities] and controlling the Internet is to be strictly prohibited.151

According to the directive, the Internet police must “step up the screening of domestic Web sites and home pages, conduct secure management of personal home pages, electronic bulletin boards, and free e-mail accounts, and collect information on important Web sites in and outside China.”152 The total size of the BSSPIN, or the “Internet Division,” is not known, but one foreign press story quoted a figure of 30,000.153 The division’s own reports indicate that it has taken aggressive actions since it was established. From July to September 2000, the Internet Division of the Beijing Public Security Bureau