Time to End the Hypocrisy of 'Free Flows of Information'
(People's Daily, China)
Paradoxically, is a failure to openly communicate at the root of
the global cyber-security problem? This editorial from the state-run People's Daily, one of the regime's more
conciliatory since the imbroglio over Edward Snowden began, argues that the U.S.
hypocritically calls for less oversight and a free flow of information, while eavesdropping
on private citizens. According to Beijing, what is required are better
relations and cooperative oversight of the Internet, striking a balance between
public safety and individual privacy.
Implacable: Russian President Vladimir Putin will not play ball on Edward Snowden, pointedly refusing to hinder his voyage to a third country. Snowden is spending his second day in Moscow's international airport.
With
the advent of the Internet, the greatest anonymous empire in human history came
into being. The classic observation is that, "On the Internet, no one
knows you're a dog.” After former CIA employee Edward Snowden’s disclosures, an
updated version of the phrase seems appropriate: "On the Internet, one
never knows how many dogs are staring back at you."
The
evidence disclosed by Snowden included revelations about the U.S. government's PRISM
project and several other covert intelligence surveillance programs. The public
has learned that U.S. intelligence agencies have not only monitored the private
data of American citizens, such as e-mails, online chat records, videos and
photos, but through undersea fiber optic cables, they have copied all network data
passing in and out of the United States. The United States has also been
pursuing a long term strategy of invading the privacy of other countries and
regions for the purpose of obtaining what it calls, "the best and most
reliable information.”
Long-simmering
information security issues have been brought to a head by the disclosures, yet
the U.S. has yet to provide a satisfactory explanation to the international
community.
As
human beings continue to open new spaces for social interactivity, the security
situation on the Internet grows ever-more complex. Under cover of Internet
anonymity, disinformation, defamation, fraud, pornography and other illegal
activities are propagated, while illegal spying, control, theft, abuse, and
other criminal acts are spreading.
Data
suggest that cyber-crime cost Chinese Netizens economic
losses of almost 279 billion yuan [$47 billion] per
year. The damage consequent upon the disclosure of personal information and
invasion of privacy is hard to measure in financial terms.
Nevertheless,
now it is apparent that as the birthplace of Internet technology, the United
States and other Western governments have been conducting cross-border network
monitoring and information theft that has served to make an already serious
network security situation worse.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
China
was a latecomer to the Internet. The Chinese government's attitude toward the Net
has always favored active use, scientific development, legal management, and ensuring
security. As governing principles, laws and regulations like the PRC Telecommunications Regulations, Internet Information
Management Services rules, and the Decision on Safeguarding Internet Security
adopt the protection of free speech and personal privacy, and the healthy
development of the Internet. Under the umbrella of these laws and regulations,
China's network has seen rapid development, resulting in high levels of
Internet penetration, booming network technology, and thriving e-commerce.
China's
approach to Internet management never talks about "absolute freedom."
The words and deeds of every individual must be restrained by law. However,
under this principle, we fully respect the legitimate right to expression of
citizens, and attach great importance to the protection of personal
information.
To
promote the removal of network oversight in pushing for "free flows of
information," while covertly eavesdropping on private citizens, is
hypocritical and suspect.
In
the era of big data, network information security is a major challenge to
humankind. Maintaining a reasonable balance between public safety the protection
of individual privacy is no easy task. Adopting double standards on the issue
creates moral ambiguity and results in unimaginable embarrassment. Mutual respect,
communication, equality and cooperation, however, can make it possible to build
peace, security, openness and cooperation in cyberspace.
