The Chinese government has been gradually establishing a surveillance system for computer networks, especially targeting Internet cafes. According to the Chinese media reports, at present the Chinese government is establishing a more advanced monitoring system in a nationwide network.

The Chinese government is establishing a digital technology surveillance network system in order to regulate online activities of Internet cafes. The Beijing Morning Post quoted Chinese Minister of Culture Liu Yuzhu as saying that at present, the Internet cafes monitoring systems of Sichuan and Guangxi provinces have been completed. The relevant departments will endeavor to create an information monitoring system in the entire Chinese market before 2005.

A Ministry of Culture official in Chengdu, Sichuan province explained that this system is managing a special division belonging to the Ministry of Culture, using computers to conduct all monitoring. He said, "A special police force is responsible for the surveillance system that monitors 24 hours a day all online activities of Internet cafes."

New Sun Internet Café Manager Mr.Wei from Nanning, Guangxi province said that all Internet cafes are required to install the surveillance system. All Internet users are issued magnetic cards or online ID cards for online registration. Through this system the Guangxi public security department database will allow online access for Internet users.

According to a report by the Chinese state media Xinhua News Agency, originally Internet users in Internet cafes accessed the net by handwritten registration that was inaccurate and incomplete. The new monitoring system requires Internet users to swipe the electronic access cards, which informs police of the identity of Internet users. A valid identification such as passport or ID card is required to obtain the magnetic cards. Through this system, the monitoring personnel are able to check information before the Internet is accessed.

But this system has some loopholes. Sichuan is one of the provinces utilizing the Internet cafe surveillance system. A Chengdu Century Internet Café employee who identified herself as Ms. Qi said that the Internet cafes might also cut some slack. This monitoring system, which mainly regulates the Internet cafes, enables the computers to immediately report to the Public Security Bureau if anyone accesses prohibited online material. The installation fee of the surveillance system is 1,000 Yuan. Many Internet cafes will remove it after initial installation and only reinstall the system during government inspections.

She indicated that Internet cafe business decreased significantly after the implementation of the new monitoring system, as many online users would rather buy computers and access the Internet at home. The majority of Internet cafes are merely trying to survive at present.

At present China has 58 million Internet users, ranking second in the world to the United States. The Internet has become an important channel of information for the Chinese. In order to control on-line information circulation, China has established the Internet police and blocks many overseas websites.

Translated by The Epoch Times