Recently, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been aggressively promoting web IDs and online certification, facing constant opposition and calls for internet withdrawal from netizens. Observers from outside the CCP note that upstream regulatory bodies are tightening control, potentially implementing a points system and complete online censorship, seriously infringing on the rights of Chinese citizens.
On July 26, the CCP’s Ministry of Public Security and the national network information office jointly released the “National Network Identity Verification Public Service Management Measures (Draft for Comments),” with the feedback deadline set for August 25. During the feedback stage, several “national-level” apps have been launched for trial scenarios.
Currently, major app stores have rolled out a “National Network Identity Verification Trial Version” app, where users must undergo ID verification, facial recognition, phone linkage, and password setup to obtain an electronic network identity certification with a “web ID.”
On August 2, Mr. Fu Wen, a resident of Weifang City in Shandong Province, sued the Ministry of Public Security in the Dongcheng District Court of Beijing, demanding the cessation of the operation of the online identity trial and its removal. The reason being that during the feedback phase, the Ministry of Public Security implemented a national network identity verification public service based on an ineffective regulation, violating administrative licensing laws.
Online, the opposition and even withdrawal from online activities by netizens continue to be vocal. The new online identity verification management measures require internet users to “voluntarily apply” for and use “web IDs” and “web certifications,” seen as deepening data integration during the pandemic, opening up multiple data pathways for end-to-end monitoring expansion. “(The CCP) cloaks surveillance under the guise of goodwill to control people.”
On August 3, Professor Huang Yusheng of the Philosophy Department and doctoral supervisor at Tsinghua University made remarks regarding web certifications and web IDs, emphasizing that a truly modern state is not one that tightly monitors its citizens but one where everyone enjoys full freedom and is free from arbitrary government harassment, surveillance, intimidation, and detention.
The term “Cheng Hu Qi Min” originated from the household registration system in the state of Qin during the Warring States period, where government-controlled households were required to register details such as name, age, birthplace, identity, appearance, and wealth status, officially categorizing commoners into government registers.
Following the publication of the article, the Weibo account “Huang Yusheng-HYS” has been permanently muted. Previously, posts by Professor Lao Dongyan from Tsinghua University’s Law School and social scientist Yu Jianjiang that publicly questioned the online identity verification system were deleted, requesting careful implementation of the certification system.
Searching for “web ID web certification identity verification” on Weibo directly prompts a registration login page. This means without an account, one cannot access any content. Upon logging in, related topics are displayed as “content not shown,” and relevant comments are blocked.
Some netizens have expressed concerns that after installing the identity certification app, their personal information was accessed, limiting internet access to specific times, needing approval for each session with a 30-minute limit before automatic disconnection.
A professional specializing in wide-area web identity verification provided some analysis on web certifications and web IDs, stating that the principle of web IDs is one ID per person, akin to a new form of identification card, while web certifications are network certificates based on web IDs and other biometric information.
He explained that the first step in promoting web certifications and web IDs is under the guise of privacy protection, with some users voluntarily joining the certification system. The second step would compel major consumer apps to terminate user names and passwords, mandating the use of web certifications. The third step involves enforcing all apps and forums to switch to web certifications, enabling the government to enact complete online censorship. The fourth step is promoting end-terminal routing equipment for mandatory web certification, where no data packets can be sent without a web certification. In this scenario, if there are any abnormalities in your data usage, your web certification can be temporarily suspended.
Silicon Valley Chinese-American network engineer Zhong Shan, in an interview with Epoch Times, noted that the implementation of web IDs and web certifications essentially means direct monitoring by upstream regulatory bodies, allowing local law enforcement to generate revenue through fines for issuing IDs and certifications. In terms of technology, starting from web IDs to personal points-based web certifications, combined with digital wallets, the net will gradually tighten.
“I estimate that everyone will have an ID but not necessarily a certification. For those targeted by state security or key control measures, they probably will have an ID but not a certification,” he said.
Many netizens question why web IDs and web certifications are being introduced when there was already a real-name system in place. Zhong Shan explained that previous forms of verification were not unified—now, with facial recognition, SMS, fingerprints, IP addresses, and router gateway addresses integrated, users are assigned a login token (web certification), uniquely linked to their device (phone or computer).
He added, “The key is the second step, where several commonly used platforms like TikTok and WeChat are affiliated with the Party. Since your daily life involves shopping and communication, how could you not voluntarily install it? In August, a digital wallet will be forcefully promoted, and a credit scoring system will also be integrated.”
Zhong Shan believes that the sharing of knowledge and convenience were the ideals of internet education in the past. The mutual sharing and creation on the internet led to a joyful community, representing the right path for society. How did so many highly educated individuals veer off into such corrupt practices?
Having encountered individuals from the “Thousand Talents Program” at domestic companies, Zhong Shan expressed frustration that those who possess such advanced communication and network skills tend to utilize their technical expertise for surveillance upon returning to China. He finds this situation irritating and unproductive.
Chinese human rights lawyer Wu Shaoping, based in the United States, stated in an interview with Epoch Times that in a truly lawful society, the government should not indiscriminately violate citizens’ rights to internet access and privacy. Internet access extends to several rights, including freedom of speech, thought, expression, and privacy.
“In a modern civilized country, such actions are unacceptable because the government must first respect public opinion. Western societies highly value individual citizen rights. In a situation where public opinion strongly opposes it, will the CCP still proceed with such regulations or laws? In a totalitarian and authoritarian state, anything is possible, as there is no regard for public sentiment. The CCP’s National Internet Information Office is reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution Office in Xi Jinping’s era.”
Wu Shaoping believes that the management measures themselves constitute administrative misconduct, violating administrative licensing laws by unlawfully restricting the online freedom rights of the entire nation. Legally speaking, the legislation from a state council department to enforce such management measures on nationwide internet freedom is also deemed illegal.
Regarding rumors of legal lawsuits based on this issue, Wu Shaoping expressed concerns about the difficulty of filing a case and pointed out that the argument of “voluntary download,” rather than mandatory license, could easily be used against any legal challenge.
In response to expressions of anger from netizens, Wu Shaoping noted the CCP’s actions to delete posts, ban accounts, and incite online mobs to attack Professor Lao Dongyan indicate their determination to push through these regulations. By holding the power to grant or revoke internet access at any given moment, the CCP is transforming the mainland into a digital prison, further stifling the society’s limited vitality.
“In recent years, the CCP’s human rights violations have escalated. To address human rights issues, including the internet access problem we just discussed, the fundamental solution is to overthrow this evil regime. The international community, along with civilized nations and the Chinese people, should unite to overthrow it,” he declared.