China proposes changes to internet law

The Chinese government recently proposed a change to a 12-year-old law that manages the internet throughout the country. The State Council is recommending changes to many aspects of the management of the internet, including blogs, microblogs and online forums. IT professionals in China will likely look to invest in computing training if the changes are made, in order to be compliant under the law.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the new rules aim to keep pace with regular changes in online security practices being seen worldwide. The changes aim to promote healthy, orderly development of the internet while protecting both the public and private sectors from hackers or other cyber threats.

More than 500 billion Chinese residents use the internet, and the government is concerned the technology's power to influence the public may become unmanageable without certain changes to existing laws. Internet users on forums, blogs and microblogs will have to register their names under the proposed changes so they can be monitored for any suspicious activity or creating an unwanted stir in public opinion.

The city of Beijing already regularly blocks many internet searches the government deems potentially hazardous to the well-being of the nation using a vast online censorship system known as the Great Firewall of China. The growing popularity of microblogs and social media sites is enabling internet users to bypass this firewall and continue without being monitored.

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