BEIJING - China clamped sweeping new controls on its citizens' use of the Internet today, with the government alleging the network is being used to leak state secrets and to spread "harmful information."
Regulations announced by Assistant Minister for Public Security Zhu Entao cover a wide range of crimes, including leaking state secrets, political subversion, and spreading pornography and violence.
The 25 previously undisclosed rules, passed earlier this month by the government's ruling State Council, are also designed to protect against computer hacking, viruses, and other computer-related crime.
They call for unspecified "criminal punishments" and fines of up to 15,000 yuan (US$1,800) for Internet providers and users who violate the rules.
Zhu's statement - which emphasized "safe and effective management of computer networks" - suggests that Beijing has come to regard the Internet much the same way it sees capitalist market practices: a tool with immense potential for enriching the nation that must be minutely regulated so that it does not undermine the Communist Party's rigid political control.
On one hand, Zhu said, Internet links have boosted China's cultural and scientific exchanges with the world. At the end of October, China had more than 49,000 host computers and 250,000 personal computers were connected to the Internet
Computer networks are indispensable as tools for state affairs, economic construction, defense and science and technology, Zhu said, adding that they are a pillar of social development.
But Zhu hastened to say that the Internet "has also brought about some security problems, including manufacturing and publicizing harmful information, as well as leaking state secrets." The new regulations, he said, would "safeguard national security and social stability."
One provision of the new rules says the Internet must not be used to "split the country," a clear reference to separatist movements in Tibet and the Muslim region of Xinjiang.
Another on "defaming government agencies" appears designed to combat use of the Internet by dissidents. A number of Chinese political exiles have homepages that criticize Beijing's repressive human rights policies.
The government of Hong Kong, which was returned to Chinese control six months ago, said Beijing's new regulations will have no effect on the territory's 6.5 million residents.
"Hong Kong will regulate its own Internet ... and China has its own regulations," said Anthony Wong, director general of Hong Kong's telecommunications agency. "The regulations in Hong Kong will not apply in China and visa versa.''
Chinese authorities have made attempts to censor pornography, politics, and Western news organizations on the Internet. But with scores of providers, Chinese surfers have been able to find almost anything they want.
Under the new regulations, Internet providers would be subject to supervision by Public Security officials and would be required to help track down violators. But the government did not say whether it will devote more resources to policing the Net.
