Chinese police arrest 15,000 for Internet crimes

[Wilikon]

BEIJING (Reuters) - Police in China said on Tuesday they had arrested about 15,000 people for crimes that "jeopardized Internet security", as the government moves to tighten controls on the Internet.

Since taking over in 2013, President Xi Jinping has led an increasingly harsh crackdown on China's Internet, which the Communist Party views with greater importance and acknowledges it needs to control, academics and researchers say.

Police have investigated 7,400 cases of cyber crime, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement on its website. It did not make clear over what period the arrests were made, but referred to a case dating to last December.

China launched a six-month program last month, code-named "Cleaning the Internet".

"For the next step, the public security organs will continue to increase their investigation and crackdown on cyber crimes," the ministry said.

The campaign would also focus on breaking major cases and destroying online criminal gangs, it added.

The sweep targeted websites providing "illegal and harmful information" besides advertisements for pornography, explosives and firearms and gambling. In total, the police said they investigated 66,000 websites.

China runs one of the world's most sophisticated online censorship mechanisms, known as the Great Firewall. Censors keep a tight grip on what can be published, particularly material that could potentially undermine the ruling Communist Party.

In February, China's internet watchdog said it would ban from March 1 internet accounts that impersonate people or organizations, and enforce the requirement for people to use their real names when registering online accounts.


http://news.yahoo.com/chinese-police-arrest-15-000-internet-crimes-124628954.html

[Sourgummies]

Its got to be draining beating back the internet against outside propaganda.

That second part you highlighted is interesting,like no one is allowed to have a face on the internet or whats driving that aspect?

[Wilikon]

Its got to be draining beating back the internet against outside propaganda.

That second part you highlighted is interesting,like no one is allowed to have a face on the internet or whats driving that aspect?

I highlighted this part, not just because it is a surprise. People with half a brain know about china and its internet army. This reminded me of how facebook was aggressively pushing people to use their real ID. As soon as someone has total power, under communism or under a massive intelligence agency like facebook, they want mooore total power...

[UMP Fourty 5]

Shit just got real in China, lol.
Looks like China ain't got shit to do but watch the internet.

[otrkid70]

Its got to be draining beating back the internet against outside propaganda.

That second part you highlighted is interesting,like no one is allowed to have a face on the internet or whats driving that aspect?

I highlighted this part, not just because it is a surprise. People with half a brain know about china and its internet army. This reminded me of how facebook was aggressively pushing people to use their real ID. As soon as someone has total power, under communism or under a massive intelligence agency like facebook, they want mooore total power...

I despise Facebook. too much bullshit and intrusion on your personal life. I'm not sure why anyone would use their real name on it. You know Zuckerberg is getting paid by the Government for all that personal information.

[Daniel91]

In such closed societies with a one-party political dictatorship, the greatest danger is the truth and information, and the Internet is the ideal means for free communication and spreading the truth.
China has major economic freedom and the free market but will never allow political freedom and democratic elections.
The question is how much the young people in China are aware of the reality in which they live and how much they are prepared to fight for change and true freedom.
The state can control the media and the Internet but can't control the minds and consciousness of its citizens.

[BlackPanda]

great indeed committed by the government of china. good work . Internet crime is very detrimental

[msc_de]

In such closed societies with a one-party political dictatorship, the greatest danger is the truth and information, and the Internet is the ideal means for free communication and spreading the truth.
China has major economic freedom and the free market but will never allow political freedom and democratic elections.
The question is how much the young people in China are aware of the reality in which they live and how much they are prepared to fight for change and true freedom.
The state can control the media and the Internet but can't control the minds and consciousness of its citizens.

In such closed societies with a one-party political dictatorship, major economic freedom and the free market are only SO-CALLED

[msc_de]

great indeed committed by the government of china. good work . Internet crime is very detrimental

it is only good work of dictatorship, WTF

[Wilikon]

great indeed committed by the government of china. good work . Internet crime is very detrimental

You've just committed an internet crime. Please report yourself to your bamboo leaves eating boss immediately.

[jayce]

Its got to be draining beating back the internet against outside propaganda.

That second part you highlighted is interesting,like no one is allowed to have a face on the internet or whats driving that aspect?

I highlighted this part, not just because it is a surprise. People with half a brain know about china and its internet army. This reminded me of how facebook was aggressively pushing people to use their real ID. As soon as someone has total power, under communism or under a massive intelligence agency like facebook, they want mooore total power...

I despise Facebook. too much bullshit and intrusion on your personal life. I'm not sure why anyone would use their real name on it. You know Zuckerberg is getting paid by the Government for all that personal information.

I don't see why government need to pay him just want to know its people's personal information. There is no important thing in their facebook account imo, and I think people wont save their important data in facebook.

[rivoke]

The most populous country on earth with so many shape of evil.
No wonder that there are many criminals has been caught and they will not stop until police take their " roots " as well

[jayce]

The most populous country on earth with so many shape of evil.
No wonder that there are many criminals has been caught and they will not stop until police take their " roots " as well

Not an easy job for polices then, they have to interrogate many people just to find one villain. And actually Xi Jinping is a great man imo, he can lead 1.5 billions people and make strict rules for them.

[Snail2]

The state can control the media and the Internet but can't control the minds and consciousness of its citizens.

Wrong. Mind can be, and used to be controlled. Here in the west by the mass media and social justice warrior groups, in China by the mass media and the police. Actually if the punishment is swift and deterrent enough most people going to control their own minds, and the rest will be useful for reminding the majority what will happen if they stop doing so.

[msc_de]

The state can control the media and the Internet but can't control the minds and consciousness of its citizens.

Wrong. Mind can be, and used to be controlled. Here in the west by the mass media and social justice warrior groups, in China by the mass media and the police. Actually if the punishment is swift and deterrent enough most people going to control their own minds, and the rest will be useful for reminding the majority what will happen if they stop doing so.

body can be jailed but spirit not, fish can not understand flying freedom of bird.

[msc_de]

China Holds More Than 15,000 For Alleged Cyber Crime: Police
2015-08-19 


Chinese police have arrested more than 15,000 people to date for cyber crimes,  including hacking and fraud, while activists said the crackdown is also linked to the ruling Chinese Communist Party's ongoing war on online public opinion.

"More than 15,000 criminal suspects were detained in investigations of more than 7,400 Internet crimes by police departments and agencies," the country's ministry of public security said in a statement on its website.

Those detained were suspected of "harming national security online" or "infringing the legitimate rights and interests of the general public," it said.

It listed hacking attacks, cyber fraud and the promotion of online gambling among the crimes under investigation.

In a case in the eastern province of Jiangsu, seven people were arrested after hackers took control of a company website, filling the pages with online gambling content, the ministry said.

The suspects were later found to have hacked into more than 2,000 websites.

But China is also deleting content that the government deems offensive and "harmful," including pornography and gambling, but also posts by citizens about current events that are considered "rumor-mongering" because they offer an alternative view of events.

Pan Lu, deputy director of the nascent China Human Rights Monitor group, said the crackdown on so-called cyber crime is linked to the nationwide "stability maintenance" system run by police.

"The police ... are the main force behind stability maintenance, because China is a police state," Pan said. "Their aim is to maintain their time control on public opinion, to support the party and state-run media and to ensure that the lies put out by the system can continue."

"They can't tolerate dissent, and they are sowing terror online, to the extent that ... citizens like us aren't able to make their voices heard," she said.

"They don't want to hear any critical or interfering voices online when they are dealing with thorny crises."



Clamp down on reporting

In recent days, China has clamped down on reporting of last week's devastating Tianjin chemical warehouse explosions, ordering state-run media to stick to officially approved news stories, deleting tweets, and shuttering social media accounts deemed to be "spreading rumors" about the Tianjin explosions.

Veteran Hebei-based reporter Zhu Xinxin said the definition of what constitutes an "Internet crime" remains very wide in China.

"For example, if you commit financial fraud using the Internet, it's understandable that this would be considered a cyber crime," Zhu said.

"Of course, there are political implications with these so-called cyber crimes, and the Chinese Communist Party uses Internet crime as a pretext to purge freedom of speech online," he said.

"[This could include] expressions of dissatisfaction with the government or current issues, speaking the truth about actual events, disasters or emergencies, or exposing official corruption," Zhu added.

"All of these things can lead to an arrest in the name of cyber crime, which constitutes a violation of human rights, and an attack of freedom of speech."



Further tightening

Earlier this month, Beijing announced it would further tighten its grip on the nation's 650 million netizens with the stationing of specialist police officers in major Internet companies.

Hacker attacks, "violent terrorist information," fraud and data theft, pornography and gambling are mushrooming online, posing a serious threat to social stability and national security, and police should "play a dominant role" in the management of online security, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, a draft cybersecurity law published by the National People's Congress (NPC) looks set to formalize and extend government controls over the Chinese Internet.

The draft law aims to "ensure network security, [and] safeguard the sovereignty of cyberspace and national security," according to the NPC’s official website, and will ensure Chinese Internet users aren’t allowed to "disturb the social order, [and] harm the public interest.

Rights groups say this could lead to further tightening of the existing set of blocks, filters and human censorship known collectively as the Great Firewall, while officials say they are also setting out to protect Chinese infrastructure from cyberattacks and the privacy of citizens’ data.

Reported by Xin Lin for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

[Wilikon]

China Holds More Than 15,000 For Alleged Cyber Crime: Police
2015-08-19 


Chinese police have arrested more than 15,000 people to date for cyber crimes,  including hacking and fraud, while activists said the crackdown is also linked to the ruling Chinese Communist Party's ongoing war on online public opinion.

"More than 15,000 criminal suspects were detained in investigations of more than 7,400 Internet crimes by police departments and agencies," the country's ministry of public security said in a statement on its website.

Those detained were suspected of "harming national security online" or "infringing the legitimate rights and interests of the general public," it said.

It listed hacking attacks, cyber fraud and the promotion of online gambling among the crimes under investigation.

In a case in the eastern province of Jiangsu, seven people were arrested after hackers took control of a company website, filling the pages with online gambling content, the ministry said.

The suspects were later found to have hacked into more than 2,000 websites.

But China is also deleting content that the government deems offensive and "harmful," including pornography and gambling, but also posts by citizens about current events that are considered "rumor-mongering" because they offer an alternative view of events.

Pan Lu, deputy director of the nascent China Human Rights Monitor group, said the crackdown on so-called cyber crime is linked to the nationwide "stability maintenance" system run by police.

"The police ... are the main force behind stability maintenance, because China is a police state," Pan said. "Their aim is to maintain their time control on public opinion, to support the party and state-run media and to ensure that the lies put out by the system can continue."

"They can't tolerate dissent, and they are sowing terror online, to the extent that ... citizens like us aren't able to make their voices heard," she said.

"They don't want to hear any critical or interfering voices online when they are dealing with thorny crises."



Clamp down on reporting

In recent days, China has clamped down on reporting of last week's devastating Tianjin chemical warehouse explosions, ordering state-run media to stick to officially approved news stories, deleting tweets, and shuttering social media accounts deemed to be "spreading rumors" about the Tianjin explosions.

Veteran Hebei-based reporter Zhu Xinxin said the definition of what constitutes an "Internet crime" remains very wide in China.

"For example, if you commit financial fraud using the Internet, it's understandable that this would be considered a cyber crime," Zhu said.

"Of course, there are political implications with these so-called cyber crimes, and the Chinese Communist Party uses Internet crime as a pretext to purge freedom of speech online," he said.

"[This could include] expressions of dissatisfaction with the government or current issues, speaking the truth about actual events, disasters or emergencies, or exposing official corruption," Zhu added.

"All of these things can lead to an arrest in the name of cyber crime, which constitutes a violation of human rights, and an attack of freedom of speech."



Further tightening

Earlier this month, Beijing announced it would further tighten its grip on the nation's 650 million netizens with the stationing of specialist police officers in major Internet companies.

Hacker attacks, "violent terrorist information," fraud and data theft, pornography and gambling are mushrooming online, posing a serious threat to social stability and national security, and police should "play a dominant role" in the management of online security, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, a draft cybersecurity law published by the National People's Congress (NPC) looks set to formalize and extend government controls over the Chinese Internet.

The draft law aims to "ensure network security, [and] safeguard the sovereignty of cyberspace and national security," according to the NPC’s official website, and will ensure Chinese Internet users aren’t allowed to "disturb the social order, [and] harm the public interest.

Rights groups say this could lead to further tightening of the existing set of blocks, filters and human censorship known collectively as the Great Firewall, while officials say they are also setting out to protect Chinese infrastructure from cyberattacks and the privacy of citizens’ data.

Reported by Xin Lin for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

Don't forget to include the original link.

[msc_de]

China Holds More Than 15,000 For Alleged Cyber Crime: Police
2015-08-19 


Chinese police have arrested more than 15,000 people to date for cyber crimes,  including hacking and fraud, while activists said the crackdown is also linked to the ruling Chinese Communist Party's ongoing war on online public opinion.

"More than 15,000 criminal suspects were detained in investigations of more than 7,400 Internet crimes by police departments and agencies," the country's ministry of public security said in a statement on its website.

Those detained were suspected of "harming national security online" or "infringing the legitimate rights and interests of the general public," it said.

It listed hacking attacks, cyber fraud and the promotion of online gambling among the crimes under investigation.

In a case in the eastern province of Jiangsu, seven people were arrested after hackers took control of a company website, filling the pages with online gambling content, the ministry said.

The suspects were later found to have hacked into more than 2,000 websites.

But China is also deleting content that the government deems offensive and "harmful," including pornography and gambling, but also posts by citizens about current events that are considered "rumor-mongering" because they offer an alternative view of events.

Pan Lu, deputy director of the nascent China Human Rights Monitor group, said the crackdown on so-called cyber crime is linked to the nationwide "stability maintenance" system run by police.

"The police ... are the main force behind stability maintenance, because China is a police state," Pan said. "Their aim is to maintain their time control on public opinion, to support the party and state-run media and to ensure that the lies put out by the system can continue."

"They can't tolerate dissent, and they are sowing terror online, to the extent that ... citizens like us aren't able to make their voices heard," she said.

"They don't want to hear any critical or interfering voices online when they are dealing with thorny crises."



Clamp down on reporting

In recent days, China has clamped down on reporting of last week's devastating Tianjin chemical warehouse explosions, ordering state-run media to stick to officially approved news stories, deleting tweets, and shuttering social media accounts deemed to be "spreading rumors" about the Tianjin explosions.

Veteran Hebei-based reporter Zhu Xinxin said the definition of what constitutes an "Internet crime" remains very wide in China.

"For example, if you commit financial fraud using the Internet, it's understandable that this would be considered a cyber crime," Zhu said.

"Of course, there are political implications with these so-called cyber crimes, and the Chinese Communist Party uses Internet crime as a pretext to purge freedom of speech online," he said.

"[This could include] expressions of dissatisfaction with the government or current issues, speaking the truth about actual events, disasters or emergencies, or exposing official corruption," Zhu added.

"All of these things can lead to an arrest in the name of cyber crime, which constitutes a violation of human rights, and an attack of freedom of speech."



Further tightening

Earlier this month, Beijing announced it would further tighten its grip on the nation's 650 million netizens with the stationing of specialist police officers in major Internet companies.

Hacker attacks, "violent terrorist information," fraud and data theft, pornography and gambling are mushrooming online, posing a serious threat to social stability and national security, and police should "play a dominant role" in the management of online security, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, a draft cybersecurity law published by the National People's Congress (NPC) looks set to formalize and extend government controls over the Chinese Internet.

The draft law aims to "ensure network security, [and] safeguard the sovereignty of cyberspace and national security," according to the NPC’s official website, and will ensure Chinese Internet users aren’t allowed to "disturb the social order, [and] harm the public interest.

Rights groups say this could lead to further tightening of the existing set of blocks, filters and human censorship known collectively as the Great Firewall, while officials say they are also setting out to protect Chinese infrastructure from cyberattacks and the privacy of citizens’ data.

Reported by Xin Lin for RFA's Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.

Don't forget to include the original link.

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-holds-more-than-15000-for-alleged-cyber-crime-police-08192015102607.html

[Snail2]

body can be jailed but spirit not, fish can not understand flying freedom of bird.

Probably you never seen a really tough jail, my naive and idealist friend . Thanks to God I've missed those places, but I know a few people who spent years in some or the tougher POW camps in Siberia. There the guards used to start with destroying the spirit and leaving nothing but the reality of flash, fear and hunger.

[BADecker]

China makes our computer/Internet electronics for us. Do you think Microsoft is the one pushing China into controlling the Internet over there for some reason?

The people of Russia back at the fall into communism were in favor of the people of the United States. It is only after the American people started to turn against the Russian people that the people over there stopped liking Americans. Do you think it is similar with China?

Assange and Snowden have shown us that we in the lands of the free are a lot less free than we think we are. How much slavery is built right into our electronics by the people of China who are doing the work of building the electronics for us?