The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is planning to issue a unified “Internet Certificate and Number” to netizens. Since July 26, the draft management measures have been released for public opinions, with the public consultation period running until August 25. Concerns about increased surveillance by authorities have led to continuous negative feedback from netizens over the past week, with many scholars openly opposing the move. However, dissenting voices have been suppressed by the authorities. Despite the consultation process just beginning, the official Internet Certificate application (App) has already been launched for trial use.
The CCP’s Ministry of Public Security and the Cyberspace Administration of China released the “National Internet Identity Verification Public Service Management Measures” on July 26 and solicited public opinions until August 25.
The official draft includes 16 articles, allowing Chinese netizens to “voluntarily apply” for and use the “Internet Number” and “Internet Certificate” through the National Internet Identity Verification App without having to provide personal identity information to online platforms. After obtaining the Internet Certificate, users will receive a virtual “Internet Identity Card” for authentication on platforms requiring real-name registration.
Officials claim that this can “maximally reduce internet platforms’ excessive collection and storage of citizens’ personal information under the guise of implementing real-name registration,” serving the goal of “protecting personal information security and promoting a trusted online identity strategy.”
However, many netizens question the move as a means to enhance control. Aside from the general public, internet influencers and scholars have also publicly voiced opposition. As of August 1, these opposing views have been censored, though some original posts can still be found on overseas social media platforms.
Major official media outlets on Weibo have selectively opened comment sections, where only sporadic posts like “reposts” can be seen.
Tsinghua University law professor Lao Dongyan posted on Weibo on July 30, saying, “Since it’s a public solicitation for opinions, I also want to express my opinion publicly.” She criticized the authorities’ plan to implement a unified Internet Number and Certificate system, stating that as a departmental regulation, it lacks a legal basis.
She criticized that the Internet Certificate and Number, similar to real-name registration on the internet, aims at controlling people’s online behavior, and claims of protecting personal information are merely a facade. It is an upgraded version of the health code during the pandemic, aiming to normalize social control and expand investigatory measures originally targeting suspected criminals to all ordinary individuals.
Lao Dongyan criticized, “The Internet Number system is equivalent to installing a monitoring device for everyone’s online activities, enabling the easy collection of all online traces, including browsing history.”
She further stated that the Internet Certificate and Number might become a privilege requiring permission in the future, and individuals may have difficulty using internet services if relevant departments do not provide certification services.
On July 30, Lao Dongyan’s another post on Weibo was also deleted. She said, “The draft departmental regulations for public solicitation of opinions do not allow different opinions to be publicly expressed. What kind of logic is this? If they only want to hear favorable views, why bother seeking public opinions?”
Mainland sociologist Yu Jianrong raised questions about the internet identity verification system on Weibo on July 31, pointing out issues such as legal uncertainties, non-unified technical standards, and operational challenges, which could pose social risks. He suggested cautious implementation of the Internet Certificate system until these issues are addressed. This post is also no longer visible.
Shen Kui, Vice Dean of Peking University Law School, published a lengthy article titled “Review of the Proportionality Principle of Unified Internet Number and Certificate.” He called on the authorities to implement at the lowest cost and to avoid using excessive measures.
In his article, Shen wrote that the vitality of the digital economy and online society lies in a decentralized rather than centralized monopoly structure. He believed that the authorities’ approach poses “enormous potential risks and harms.” After Shen’s commentary was shared, a Weibo user commented: “This must be shared, equivalent to actively consolidating every online behavior into a list, thinking with the logic of managing prisons.”
However, Shen Kui’s commentary has also been taken down and censored.
On oversea platforms, Chinese netizens enjoying internet freedom lament the difficulty in the CCP’s “walled” country and mock the authorities’ actions.
Simon Chat: “Soliciting opinions publicly is a step in the process of gaining praise and legitimacy. Deleting posts is a thug-like method of controlling public opinion. Both are not contradictory but essential components of the entire democratic process, indispensable and mutually beneficial.”
Wan Qing: “Must agree with everything, or you’ll be stuck!”
Qian Zheng: “You see, the people raising problems have solved them, and the problem is solved.”
Kevi: “Back then during the fake ‘let a hundred flowers bloom,’ it lasted half a year.”
DW: “Delete non-agreeing posts, leave agreeing posts, and then everyone agrees.”
Xiao Yao Zi Zai: “It’s never been a genuine request for opinions. Their supposed public consultation is just a showcase. The content subsequently released mostly states: the majority of netizens highly support the implementation of the Internet Certificate and Number.”
While the “Internet Certificate and Number” has sparked backlash, the CCP’s Ministry of Public Security has developed the “National Internet Identity Verification” application (App), which has recently been made available for trial use. It is online on various application stores, including the National Administrative Service Platform, China Railway 12306, Taobao, WeChat, Xiao Hong Shu, and QQ, which have initiated pilot testing.
According to the “Sci-Tech Board Daily,” many users who tested the app noted that applying for and registering the “Internet Number” and “Internet Certificate” required ID card information, facial recognition to verify identity, association with a mobile phone number, setting an online identity password, and authorizing network identity use on the user’s phone.
A reporter from Hong Kong’s “Mingpao” stated that they input their return permit information on the App for facial recognition, then added a mobile phone number (currently supporting only mainland numbers) to apply for the Internet Certificate.
On July 31, Dongfang Wealth website published an article titled “Internet Certificate and Number Are Here? Two Departments’ New Drafts Solicit Opinions and Spark Debate, Trial APP Already Online,” but it was removed as the application was put online for trial use while opinions were still being sought.
Voice of America quoted an unnamed human rights lawyer who stated that the new regulation on Internet Certificate and Number is illegal. Not only does it blatantly violate international human rights conventions such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Economic Rights, but it also breaches China’s constitution by abusing and infringing citizens’ personal privacy, communication, and freedom of speech.
A Silicon Valley Chinese communication network engineer, Zu Wang, stated in an interview with the Epoch Times that the technical route for the Internet Certificate is closely linked to pandemic prevention codes, resurrecting enclosed spaces. Due to the cultivated bureaucracy of technology officials forming interest groups, the introduction of Internet Certificate and Number was to be expected.