White paper explains 'Internet sovereignty'

China for the first time puts forward the idea of "Internet sovereignty", in a regulating policy guideline published Tuesday.

Experts say that "Internet sovereignty" implies that all foreign IT companies operating in China must abide by China's laws and subject to Beijing's oversight.

"Within Chinese territory, the Internet is under the jurisdiction of Chinese sovereignty," China's first ever white paper on the Internet says. "The Internet sovereignty of China should be respected and protected."

Beijing is striving to strike a balance between ensuring the free flow of online information and protecting national security and public interest, according to the white paper.

It "guarantees the citizens' freedom of speech on the Internet as well as the public's right to know, to participate, to be heard, and to oversee (the government) in accordance with the law", it says.

The Internet has an "irreplaceable role in accelerating the development of the national economy" and will continue to impact daily work, education and lifestyles, the paper says.

There were 384 million Internet users in China at the end of 2009, about 28.8 percent of the population. There are over 1 million BBSs and some 220 million bloggers, and more than two-thirds of netizens frequently place postings to "fully express their opinion", the paper says.

Newly-emerging online services, including blogging, microblogging, video-sharing and social networking websites, are developing rapidly, and provide greater convenience to users, it says.

The white paper, however, stresses that the government cannot ignore Internet security.

"Effectively protecting Internet security is an important part of China's Internet administration, and an indispensable requirement for protecting State security and the public interest," the paper says.

The 31-page document does not give examples of what content will be banned, only saying that Chinese law prohibits the spread of "contents subverting State power, undermining national unity, infringing upon national interests, inciting ethnic hatred and secession" as well as such things as pornography and terrorism.
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