"China's Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu has called for full application of the information technology in improving the police force's crime prevention and control system. Meng made the remarks during an inspection tour to east China's Anhui Province from Oct. 30 to 31. To safeguard national security and maintain public stability, information technology was indispensable, he said. Greater efforts should be made in sharing information to establish an integrated mechanism of combating, preventing and controlling crimes, Meng said. He also urged close cooperation between the public security departments and technological enterprises."
- Rebecca MacKinnon
"The first Guangdong Province Netizen Forum, held in the provincial capital Guangzhou on November 1, 2009 is a sign of the growing importance of the Internet as an expression of Chinese public opinion, Chinanews.com.cn reports. The forum sponsors said their aim is to transmit the views of grass-roots netizens to the government and boost the participation of Internet users in public life. Internet use has spread rapidly across China over the past ten years and Guangdong has more Internet users than any other province. Guangdong Party Secretary Wang Yang has held discussions with netizens and invited them to voice their criticisms of government. He has also said the government wants to create ways for the public to participate in policy making and turn public opinion into a form of soft power to improve Guangdong."
- Rebecca MacKinnon
China's Culture Ministry has accused the publishing watchdog of abusing its authority by threatening access to the popular online game, World of Warcraft, stoking bureaucratic rivalry over control of the Internet.
- Rebecca MacKinnon
"The country's police chief said the rapid development of the Internet has posed a new challenge to maintaining social stability, as he called for a comprehensive security system covering both the real and virtual worlds. The rare remarks by Minister of Public Security Meng Jianzhu signal more government attention to online opinions but also stricter control on online expression, experts said. "Currently, the overall social order is good ... but the rapid development of the Internet and loopholes in social management are posing unprecedented challenges to maintaining a stable society," Meng said at a seminar with police chiefs from across the country on Sunday in Hefei, Anhui province, according to a transcript posted on the ministry's website yesterday."
- Rebecca MacKinnon