Latest news with #digitalidentity
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
China tightens internet controls with new centralised form of virtual ID
By John Liu , for CNN A man reads from his laptop as he eats, in April in Beijing, China. Photo: AFP/ Yin Gang China has mastered the craft of policing the internet, operating one of the world's most extensive online censorship and surveillance regimes. With mandatory identity checks on every online platform, it has become almost impossible for users to stay anonymous. But this rigidly moderated online environment is about to face even stricter controls with the introduction of a state-issued national internet ID. Instead of requiring individuals to submit their personal information for identity checks separately on each platform, the government now seeks to centralise the process by issuing a virtual ID that will allow users to sign in across different social media apps and websites. The rules for the new system, currently voluntary, were released in late May and will be implemented in mid-July. It aims to "protect citizens' identity information, and support the healthy and orderly development of the digital economy," according to the published rules. Experts, however, have raised concerns that the new policy will further erode already limited freedom of expression by forcing internet users to relinquish even more control to the state. Since Chinese leader Xi Jinping took power in 2012, the country has further tightened its grip on the digital space through an army of censors. Deployed around the clock, they remove posts, suspend accounts and help authorities identify critics, quashing any sign of dissent before it can gain traction. The finalised rules were announced after a proposal that was opened for public comment last summer, a typical step in China's legislative process. During the course of the public consultation over the past year, the proposal faced backlash from law professors, human rights experts and some internet users. Yet, the finalised rules remained largely similar to the draft. "This is a state-led, unified identity system capable of real-time monitoring and blocking of users," said Xiao Qiang, a research scientist studying internet freedom at the University of California, Berkeley. "It can directly erase voices it doesn't like from the internet, so it's more than just a surveillance tool - it is an infrastructure of digital totalitarianism." Control of China's vast portion of the global internet has largely been delegated to a decentralised range of different groups, with authorities relying partially on the social media platforms themselves to identify comments deemed problematic. Xiao warned that a centralised system using the internet ID could make it much easier for the government to wipe out a user's presence across multiple platforms at once. Shane Yi, a researcher at China Human Rights Defenders, an advocacy group, echoed Xiao's worries. The system gives the Chinese government expanded power to "do what they want when they see fit" on the internet, as authorities are able to track users' entire digital trail "from point zero," she said. Bus passengers use smartphones in Qingdao city, in the east of China's Shandong province, in 2019. Photo: AFP/ Zhan Hailin At home, Chinese state-run media has called the internet ID a "bullet-proof vest for personal information" and touted the system as being able to greatly reduce the risk of personal data leaks. Already, more than six million people have registered for the ID, according to Chinese state-run media Xinhua last month, out of a total estimated online population of more than one billion. A cybersecurity official from the Ministry of Public Security told Xinhua that the internet ID service was strictly "voluntary," but the government encourages various industries and sectors to integrate with it. "Its goal is to provide individuals with a secure, convenient, authoritative and efficient means of identity verification, in support of the development of the digital economy," the person was quoted as saying. But experts have also questioned how voluntary the system truly is and highlighted risks of potential data breaches, as personal information is now being collected in a centralised manner. Haochen Sun, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, said that, although the law presents the system as voluntary, it could gradually evolve into a system which users may struggle not to opt in to. "If the government wants to promote this internet ID verification system, it can do so through various arrangements - essentially by encouraging people to adopt it, offering more conveniences in return," he said. Sun also raised concerns about the increased risks of data leaks. "A centralized, nationwide platform inherently creates a single point of vulnerability, making it an attractive target for hackers or hostile foreign actors," he said. Government data breaches have occurred around the world. One notable incident in China involved a police database containing the personal information of one billion citizens being leaked online in 2022. Although the new rules won't take effect until mid-July, hundreds of apps started trialling the internet ID since last year. The system was born out of a proposal by a police official early last year. Jia Xiaoliang, a cyber police deputy director in northeastern China who is also a delegate to China's rubber-stamp legislature, the National People's Congress, first proposed the system during the Congress' annual meeting in March 2024. As soon as the government began soliciting public comments on the proposal last July, experts and legal scholars voiced opposition. Lao Dongyan, a prominent law professor at Tsinghua University, compared the system to "installing a surveillance device on every individual's online activity" in a post on Weibo, an X-like Chinese social media platform. The post was removed soon after, and her account was subsequently suspended from posting for three months, for "violating relevant rules." In late May, when the finalised rules were unveiled after a year, almost no criticism could be found online. Xiao explained that it's not the first time authorities have spaced out the time between a proposal and its implementation, to allow critics to "blow off steam." "It's done deliberately … Many of their measures follow the same pattern, and they've proven effective," he said. - CNN
CNN
9 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
China tightens internet controls with new centralized form of virtual ID
China has mastered the craft of policing the internet, operating one of the world's most extensive online censorship and surveillance regimes. With mandatory identity checks on every online platform, it has become almost impossible for users to stay anonymous. But this rigidly moderated online environment is about to face even stricter controls with the introduction of a state-issued national internet ID. Instead of requiring individuals to submit their personal information for identity checks separately on each platform, the government now seeks to centralize the process by issuing a virtual ID that will allow users to sign in across different social media apps and websites. The rules for the new system, currently voluntary, were released in late May and will be implemented in mid-July. It aims to 'protect citizens' identity information, and support the healthy and orderly development of the digital economy,' according to the published rules. Experts, however, have raised concerns that the new policy will further erode already limited freedom of expression by forcing internet users to relinquish even more control to the state. Since Chinese leader Xi Jinping took power in 2012, the country has further tightened its grip on the digital space through an army of censors. Deployed around the clock, they remove posts, suspend accounts and help authorities identify critics, quashing any sign of dissent before it can gain traction. The finalized rules were announced after a proposal that was opened for public comment last summer, a typical step in China's legislative process. During the course of the public consultation over the past year, the proposal faced backlash from law professors, human rights experts and some internet users. Yet, the finalized rules remained largely similar to the draft. 'This is a state-led, unified identity system capable of real-time monitoring and blocking of users,' said Xiao Qiang, a research scientist studying internet freedom at the University of California, Berkeley. 'It can directly erase voices it doesn't like from the internet, so it's more than just a surveillance tool – it is an infrastructure of digital totalitarianism.' Control of China's vast portion of the global internet has largely been delegated to a decentralized range of different groups, with authorities relying partially on the social media platforms themselves to identify comments deemed problematic. Xiao warned that a centralized system using the internet ID could make it much easier for the government to wipe out a user's presence across multiple platforms at once. Shane Yi, a researcher at China Human Rights Defenders, an advocacy group, echoed Xiao's worries. The system gives the Chinese government expanded power to 'do what they want when they see fit' on the internet, as authorities are able to track users' entire digital trail 'from point zero,' she said. At home, Chinese state-run media has called the internet ID a 'bullet-proof vest for personal information' and touted the system as being able to greatly reduce the risk of personal data leaks. Already, more than six million people have registered for the ID, according to Chinese state-run media Xinhua last month, out of a total estimated online population of more than one billion. A cybersecurity official from the Ministry of Public Security told Xinhua that the internet ID service was strictly 'voluntary,' but the government encourages various industries and sectors to integrate with it. 'Its goal is to provide individuals with a secure, convenient, authoritative and efficient means of identity verification, in support of the development of the digital economy,' the person was quoted as saying. But experts have also questioned how voluntary the system truly is and highlighted risks of potential data breaches, as personal information is now being collected in a centralized manner. Haochen Sun, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, said that, although the law presents the system as voluntary, it could gradually evolve into a system which users may struggle not to opt in to. 'If the government wants to promote this internet ID verification system, it can do so through various arrangements – essentially by encouraging people to adopt it, offering more conveniences in return,' he said. Sun also raised concerns about the increased risks of data leaks. 'A centralized, nationwide platform inherently creates a single point of vulnerability, making it an attractive target for hackers or hostile foreign actors,' he said. Government data breaches have occurred around the world. One notable incident in China involved a police database containing the personal information of one billion citizens being leaked online in 2022. Although the new rules won't take effect until mid-July, hundreds of apps started trialing the internet ID since last year. The system was born out of a proposal by a police official early last year. Jia Xiaoliang, a cyber police deputy director in northeastern China who is also a delegate to China's rubber-stamp legislature, the National People's Congress, first proposed the system during the Congress's annual meeting in March 2024. As soon as the government began soliciting public comments on the proposal last July, experts and legal scholars voiced opposition. Lao Dongyan, a prominent law professor at Tsinghua University, compared the system to 'installing a surveillance device on every individual's online activity' in a post on Weibo, an X-like Chinese social media platform. The post was removed soon after, and her account was subsequently suspended from posting for three months, for 'violating relevant rules.' In late May, when the finalized rules were unveiled after a year, almost no criticism could be found online. Xiao explained that it's not the first time authorities have spaced out the time between a proposal and its implementation, to allow critics to 'blow off steam.' 'It's done deliberately … Many of their measures follow the same pattern, and they've proven effective,' he said.
CNN
10 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
China tightens internet controls with new centralized form of virtual ID
China has mastered the craft of policing the internet, operating one of the world's most extensive online censorship and surveillance regimes. With mandatory identity checks on every online platform, it has become almost impossible for users to stay anonymous. But this rigidly moderated online environment is about to face even stricter controls with the introduction of a state-issued national internet ID. Instead of requiring individuals to submit their personal information for identity checks separately on each platform, the government now seeks to centralize the process by issuing a virtual ID that will allow users to sign in across different social media apps and websites. The rules for the new system, currently voluntary, were released in late May and will be implemented in mid-July. It aims to 'protect citizens' identity information, and support the healthy and orderly development of the digital economy,' according to the published rules. Experts, however, have raised concerns that the new policy will further erode already limited freedom of expression by forcing internet users to relinquish even more control to the state. Since Chinese leader Xi Jinping took power in 2012, the country has further tightened its grip on the digital space through an army of censors. Deployed around the clock, they remove posts, suspend accounts and help authorities identify critics, quashing any sign of dissent before it can gain traction. The finalized rules were announced after a proposal that was opened for public comment last summer, a typical step in China's legislative process. During the course of the public consultation over the past year, the proposal faced backlash from law professors, human rights experts and some internet users. Yet, the finalized rules remained largely similar to the draft. 'This is a state-led, unified identity system capable of real-time monitoring and blocking of users,' said Xiao Qiang, a research scientist studying internet freedom at the University of California, Berkeley. 'It can directly erase voices it doesn't like from the internet, so it's more than just a surveillance tool – it is an infrastructure of digital totalitarianism.' Control of China's vast portion of the global internet has largely been delegated to a decentralized range of different groups, with authorities relying partially on the social media platforms themselves to identify comments deemed problematic. Xiao warned that a centralized system using the internet ID could make it much easier for the government to wipe out a user's presence across multiple platforms at once. Shane Yi, a researcher at China Human Rights Defenders, an advocacy group, echoed Xiao's worries. The system gives the Chinese government expanded power to 'do what they want when they see fit' on the internet, as authorities are able to track users' entire digital trail 'from point zero,' she said. At home, Chinese state-run media has called the internet ID a 'bullet-proof vest for personal information' and touted the system as being able to greatly reduce the risk of personal data leaks. Already, more than six million people have registered for the ID, according to Chinese state-run media Xinhua last month, out of a total estimated online population of more than one billion. A cybersecurity official from the Ministry of Public Security told Xinhua that the internet ID service was strictly 'voluntary,' but the government encourages various industries and sectors to integrate with it. 'Its goal is to provide individuals with a secure, convenient, authoritative and efficient means of identity verification, in support of the development of the digital economy,' the person was quoted as saying. But experts have also questioned how voluntary the system truly is and highlighted risks of potential data breaches, as personal information is now being collected in a centralized manner. Haochen Sun, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, said that, although the law presents the system as voluntary, it could gradually evolve into a system which users may struggle not to opt in to. 'If the government wants to promote this internet ID verification system, it can do so through various arrangements – essentially by encouraging people to adopt it, offering more conveniences in return,' he said. Sun also raised concerns about the increased risks of data leaks. 'A centralized, nationwide platform inherently creates a single point of vulnerability, making it an attractive target for hackers or hostile foreign actors,' he said. Government data breaches have occurred around the world. One notable incident in China involved a police database containing the personal information of one billion citizens being leaked online in 2022. Although the new rules won't take effect until mid-July, hundreds of apps started trialing the internet ID since last year. The system was born out of a proposal by a police official early last year. Jia Xiaoliang, a cyber police deputy director in northeastern China who is also a delegate to China's rubber-stamp legislature, the National People's Congress, first proposed the system during the Congress's annual meeting in March 2024. As soon as the government began soliciting public comments on the proposal last July, experts and legal scholars voiced opposition. Lao Dongyan, a prominent law professor at Tsinghua University, compared the system to 'installing a surveillance device on every individual's online activity' in a post on Weibo, an X-like Chinese social media platform. The post was removed soon after, and her account was subsequently suspended from posting for three months, for 'violating relevant rules.' In late May, when the finalized rules were unveiled after a year, almost no criticism could be found online. Xiao explained that it's not the first time authorities have spaced out the time between a proposal and its implementation, to allow critics to 'blow off steam.' 'It's done deliberately … Many of their measures follow the same pattern, and they've proven effective,' he said.
CNN
10 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
China tightens internet controls with new centralized form of virtual ID
China has mastered the craft of policing the internet, operating one of the world's most extensive online censorship and surveillance regimes. With mandatory identity checks on every online platform, it has become almost impossible for users to stay anonymous. But this rigidly moderated online environment is about to face even stricter controls with the introduction of a state-issued national internet ID. Instead of requiring individuals to submit their personal information for identity checks separately on each platform, the government now seeks to centralize the process by issuing a virtual ID that will allow users to sign in across different social media apps and websites. The rules for the new system, currently voluntary, were released in late May and will be implemented in mid-July. It aims to 'protect citizens' identity information, and support the healthy and orderly development of the digital economy,' according to the published rules. Experts, however, have raised concerns that the new policy will further erode already limited freedom of expression by forcing internet users to relinquish even more control to the state. Since Chinese leader Xi Jinping took power in 2012, the country has further tightened its grip on the digital space through an army of censors. Deployed around the clock, they remove posts, suspend accounts and help authorities identify critics, quashing any sign of dissent before it can gain traction. The finalized rules were announced after a proposal that was opened for public comment last summer, a typical step in China's legislative process. During the course of the public consultation over the past year, the proposal faced backlash from law professors, human rights experts and some internet users. Yet, the finalized rules remained largely similar to the draft. 'This is a state-led, unified identity system capable of real-time monitoring and blocking of users,' said Xiao Qiang, a research scientist studying internet freedom at the University of California, Berkeley. 'It can directly erase voices it doesn't like from the internet, so it's more than just a surveillance tool – it is an infrastructure of digital totalitarianism.' Control of China's vast portion of the global internet has largely been delegated to a decentralized range of different groups, with authorities relying partially on the social media platforms themselves to identify comments deemed problematic. Xiao warned that a centralized system using the internet ID could make it much easier for the government to wipe out a user's presence across multiple platforms at once. Shane Yi, a researcher at China Human Rights Defenders, an advocacy group, echoed Xiao's worries. The system gives the Chinese government expanded power to 'do what they want when they see fit' on the internet, as authorities are able to track users' entire digital trail 'from point zero,' she said. At home, Chinese state-run media has called the internet ID a 'bullet-proof vest for personal information' and touted the system as being able to greatly reduce the risk of personal data leaks. Already, more than six million people have registered for the ID, according to Chinese state-run media Xinhua last month, out of a total estimated online population of more than one billion. A cybersecurity official from the Ministry of Public Security told Xinhua that the internet ID service was strictly 'voluntary,' but the government encourages various industries and sectors to integrate with it. 'Its goal is to provide individuals with a secure, convenient, authoritative and efficient means of identity verification, in support of the development of the digital economy,' the person was quoted as saying. But experts have also questioned how voluntary the system truly is and highlighted risks of potential data breaches, as personal information is now being collected in a centralized manner. Haochen Sun, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong, said that, although the law presents the system as voluntary, it could gradually evolve into a system which users may struggle not to opt in to. 'If the government wants to promote this internet ID verification system, it can do so through various arrangements – essentially by encouraging people to adopt it, offering more conveniences in return,' he said. Sun also raised concerns about the increased risks of data leaks. 'A centralized, nationwide platform inherently creates a single point of vulnerability, making it an attractive target for hackers or hostile foreign actors,' he said. Government data breaches have occurred around the world. One notable incident in China involved a police database containing the personal information of one billion citizens being leaked online in 2022. Although the new rules won't take effect until mid-July, hundreds of apps started trialing the internet ID since last year. The system was born out of a proposal by a police official early last year. Jia Xiaoliang, a cyber police deputy director in northeastern China who is also a delegate to China's rubber-stamp legislature, the National People's Congress, first proposed the system during the Congress's annual meeting in March 2024. As soon as the government began soliciting public comments on the proposal last July, experts and legal scholars voiced opposition. Lao Dongyan, a prominent law professor at Tsinghua University, compared the system to 'installing a surveillance device on every individual's online activity' in a post on Weibo, an X-like Chinese social media platform. The post was removed soon after, and her account was subsequently suspended from posting for three months, for 'violating relevant rules.' In late May, when the finalized rules were unveiled after a year, almost no criticism could be found online. Xiao explained that it's not the first time authorities have spaced out the time between a proposal and its implementation, to allow critics to 'blow off steam.' 'It's done deliberately … Many of their measures follow the same pattern, and they've proven effective,' he said.
Coin Geek
a day ago
- Business
- Coin Geek
Ethiopia, Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe step up digitalization
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... African countries have stepped up their digital identity initiatives, with over a dozen targeting full coverage within the next three years. In Ethiopia, the government has set an ambitious target of 90 million digital IDs over the next two years, while Namibia will start rolling out a similar initiative in 2026. Even Africa's smallest nation, São Tomé and Príncipe, is digitalizing identity to boost inclusion. Ethiopia's ambitious 90M enrollment target Ethiopia has emerged as a regional powerhouse in digital identity and has already enrolled 16.9 million citizens to its Fayda Number digital ID, equating to 13% of its population. The target is 90 million within the next two years, says Yodahe Zemichael, the director of the National ID Program (NIDP). Speaking on the sidelines of the recent ID4Africa event, held in the capital, Addis Ababa, Zemichael stated that the Ethiopian government considers digital identity a necessity, not an optional luxury. 'In Ethiopia, the eligible population is everyone, including children. If 10–30 percent don't have an ID, then they're excluded from schemes like social programs or agricultural initiatives. That undermines the value of digital ID. So yes, 90 percent is the minimum,' he told one news outlet. Ethiopian leaders who spoke at the event cited strong political support, significant financing, and regulatory changes as some of the key factors behind the success of the Fayda Number. The program was launched five years ago under the Digital Ethiopia 2025 initiative, whose primary goal was to digitize the East African country's $164 billion economy. As of last month, the digital ID had been integrated into 55 public and private sector institutions. Three weeks ago, the government launched the FaydaPass Wallet, developed in partnership with Visa (NASDAQ: V), to boost financial inclusion. Ethiopia's exploits are inspiring other African countries to digitalize identity for their citizens. Two months ago, Zambia announced that its own digital ID initiative would be based on the Ethiopian model. According to Zemichael, the digital ID will allow the country to better serve its vast population; with 120 million citizens, only Nigeria has a larger population than Ethiopia in Africa. 'It's not even about ambition; it's a necessity. And 90 million out of 120 million isn't even 90 percent, so we actually have to go beyond that.' Namibia, São Tomé and Príncipe step up digital ID efforts Beyond Ethiopia, dozens of other African countries are pursuing similar digital ID efforts. One of these is Namibia, whose government has now earmarked July 2026 as the launch date for a new digital identity system. Namibia's Home Affairs Ministry first announced the initiative in April, and last week, executive director Etienne Maritz revealed the deadline as mid-next year. Maritz said that the e-ID will transition the Southern African country to a secure and digitally connected society, as reported by the local paper, Windhoek Observer. 'Unlike conventional paper documents, the biometric-enabled e-ID is nearly impossible to forge, offering each citizen a uniquely verifiable identity that is both secure and enduring,' he said. However, he acknowledged citizens' concerns regarding the safety and privacy of their data. 'Every innovation comes with questions and concerns. That is why the Ministry will be engaging the public early, openly, and honestly, so that no one is left behind or misinformed,' he stated. The Namibian government is planning an extensive education and awareness campaign, starting with the United Nations Conference on Digital Legal Identity in Windhoek later this month. In Central Africa, one of the continent's smallest countries, São Tomé and Príncipe, is piloting a national digital ID system. Speaking at the ID4Africa in Ethiopia, a representative for the country's Justice Ministry revealed that the pilot has been successful so far. São Tomé is the second-smallest country in Africa by land area and population after Seychelles. The new system will be built atop the Modular Open-Source Identity Platform (MOSIP), an open-source digital ID platform that governments build foundational ID programs on. Backed by the World Bank and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, it's been tapped by the Philippines, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, and others. 'The process is going on well….and we are looking at how to move into the next phase, that is full-scale deployment,' the representative told one news outlet. Watch: Tech redefines how things are done—Africa is here for it title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
