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China, already famed for its extensive online censorship and surveillance systems, is introducing yet another layer of digital control: a state-issued national internet ID. Starting mid-July, this mandatory yet initially voluntary ID will centralize user identity verification across all online platforms. Though the government promotes it as a privacy and data-protection tool, critics warn it could significantly erode online freedom, deepen censorship, and extend state surveillance into every corner of digital life.
I. What Is the National Internet ID?
1. Unified Login for the Entire Web
Currently, Chinese users must verify their identities individually across each website or app using phone numbers or national IDs. The new internet ID system changes that by offering a single, government-issued virtual ID—often referred to as a “web number” and “web certificate”—usable across platforms like Taobao, WeChat, and Xiaohongshu. While the government claims this will simplify digital living, critics argue it consolidates surveillance power under the state.
2. The Rules and Timetable
The finalized regulations, released in late May, launch a voluntary pilot set to run through mid-July. The government’s justification is to safeguard personal data and encourage orderly development of the digital economy. However, legal scholars caution that this “voluntary” status is likely to become compulsory over time.
II. Why Critics Are Raising Alarm
1. A Mechanism of Digital Suppression
Xiao Qiang of UC Berkeley describes the system as a “state-led, unified identity system capable of real-time monitoring and blocking of users.” He warns that the government could erase dissenting voices across multiple platforms simultaneously, marking a chilling escalation of censorship.
2. The Chilling Effect on Expression
Chinese Human Rights Defenders and ARTICLE 19 condemn the ID as threatening freedom of expression. According to them, the system would deeply weaken anonymity, exposing journalists, lawyers, and rights advocates to heightened scrutiny and retaliation. Critics fear that, once fully implemented, being denied an ID could mean losing access to the entire internet .
III. Official Defenses and Privacy Promises
1. Government Framing and Intent
State media presents the ID as a “bullet-proof vest for personal information,” arguing that centralization can reduce personal data exposure by platforms and improve online security. The Ministry of Public Security has stressed its voluntary nature and urged industries to encourage usage through convenience and integration.
2. Privacy Risks and Data Centralization
Despite these reassurances, critics emphasize that concentrating sensitive data presents a massive vulnerability. Experts warn that a single-point breach could expose millions. They point to previous incidents, such as the massive leak from a Shanghai police database in 2022, as evidence of the danger.
IV. The Rulemaking Process and Silencing of Dissent
1. Public Input and Suppression
The rules began as a public draft in July 2024, inviting citizen feedback. However, criticism from legal professionals—including Tsinghua professor Lao Dongyan—quickly disappeared from public platforms, and Lao herself was suspended from posting for three months.
2. Deliberate Cooling-Off Tactics
Observers note that Chinese authorities often stagger public comment windows, allowing critical voices to emerge briefly before suppressing them ahead of final rule implementation. This calculated process ensures backlash is muted before enforcement begins.
V. Wider Implications and the “Techno-Authoritarian” Trend
1. China as a Digital Model
China’s digital control architecture—including its cyber ID system—is increasingly cited as a framework for authoritarian governments worldwide. Digital surveillance tools ranging from biometric systems to internet firewalls give China influence in defining international internet governance norms.
2. Real-Name System Extended
China’s real-name verification system—mandated since 2017—already required users to tie public accounts to official identification. The new internet ID deepens this by assigning a persistent ID across platforms, further reducing anonymity and increasing state tracking power across the digital ecosystem.
Conclusion
China’s national internet ID brings significant changes: a single login may seem user-friendly, but it grants the government sweeping monitoring and censorship powers. While touted as protective for personal data, it centralizes information in ways that experts warn could transform digital platforms into instruments of state control. Looking ahead, many worry these measures could inspire similar practices globally, challenging the future of digital freedom.
