From news.eff.org!soprano.clari.net!e.news Mon Aug 19 13:11:01 1996 Path: news.eff.org!soprano.clari.net!e.news Supersedes: Distribution: cl-4 From: C-upi@clari.net (UPI) Newsgroups: clari.tw.new_media,clari.world.asia.china,clari.news.issues.censorship Subject: China allows more on-line links Keywords: international, social issues, censorship, US government, non-usa government Organization: Copyright 1996 by United Press International Message-ID: Lines: 47 Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 2:51:02 PDT ACategory: international Slugword: china-internet Threadword: china Priority: regular Format: regular ANPA: Wc: 439/0; Id: z3949; Src: up; Sel: i---i; Adate: 8-15-N.A; Ver: 1/2 Approved: e.news@clari.net Xref: news.eff.org clari.tw.new_media:2246 clari.world.asia.china:3936 clari.news.issues.censorship:277 BEIJING, Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Beijing said Thursday it is allowing Internet providers to expand on-line networks and recruit more users throughout the country, but it is not relinquishing tight control over use of the World Wide Web in China. The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Electronics Industry, the State Education Commission, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have been authorized to build more links and open subscriptions to the public. China has clamped down on access to information networks, fearing the spread of computer-disseminated pornography and political dissent. ``Any individual or organization can sign up,'' Zhu Dehui, marketing head of the Beijing Telegraph Office, which is licensed to distribute ChinaNet, told the official China Daily. He did not, however, indicate what percentage of applicants would be granted access to the Internet. ``The application process is simple and swift,'' he said, noting counters have been set up at the BTO to handle inquiries about the international network involving millions of computers around the world. Zhu claimed service would be provided two days after an application is approved. Government statistics show there are more than 50,000 Internet subscribers throughout the country since the Internet was made available in 1994. In Beijing, there are 6,000 users out of a population of 12 million. Industry analysts predict the number of Internet users in China will only be allowed to reach 300,000 people within the next two to three years. Subcribers are mostly academic institutions, foreign diplomats, foreign-funded corporations, and science and research research institutions. Under the strict regulations imposed in February, all new applicants have to register with police to block ``politically destructive information'' and curb criminal behavior. All computer networks with links to databases outside China can only use lines provided by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, where software has been installed to filter out data. The government also bans groups or individuals from ``producing, retrieving, duplicating and spreading information that may hinder public order, and obscene and pornographic materials.'' China fears the global computer network can be used by international groups to communicate with sources in other countries or dissidents to post harmful information about the government and officials. It is particularly sensitive on such information labeled as state secrets and those detrimental to state security. sin-m