Digitalization in China: Surveillance, Opportunities and Social Control!

Digitalization in China: Surveillance, Opportunities and Social Control!

Researchers in Germany are focusing on China research, particularly on the influence of speculative storytelling on authorship and digital participation in authoritarian media systems. A key player in this area is Jun.-Prof. Dr. Jessica Imbach from the University of Freiburg, who recently created one with her project on Chinese fantasy literature ERC Starting Grant received. Her approach promises to explore the dimensions of Chinese fantasy in depth and to make the cultural processes of this literature accessible to the public.

The ERC Starting Grant, which supports excellent scientists in the early phase of their careers, provides Imbach with up to 1.5 million euros over five years for their research. Among other things, the plan is to develop a digital lexicon on contemporary Chinese fantasy, which will help document the complex connections and robust creativity of this literary form.

Digital technologies and China

China's digital landscape has changed significantly, particularly in the government's use of digital technologies. As the source [medienportal.univie.ac.at] points out, the Chinese leadership is promoting data mining not only for surveillance and censorship, but also for citizen proximity and to combat corruption. In his ERC project, sinologist Christian Göbel examines the far-reaching effects of digital technologies on authoritarian regimes, particularly in China, where a third of all protests revolve around wages.

Although the government uses digital technologies to collect and process citizen complaints, it remains unclear whether this results in a more effective and fair system. The idea of ​​a mandatory Internet ID card to identify users could be the focus of the discussion about surveillance and data protection.

Censorship and information flows

However, the challenges arising from digitalization should not be underestimated. The censorship system in China is characterized by a large number of content bans that have existed since the early 2000s. Topics such as separatism, racism and criticism of the system are particularly heavily censored in order to ensure political stability. This is done through the Cyberspace Affairs Commissions (CACs) and the Network Security Bureaus (NSBs), which play a central role in moderating and controlling online content.

With the introduction of the Cybersecurity Law 2017 and the Data Security Law 2021, the government has created a clear framework for data storage and collection. The chronicle of these developments shows that the digitalization of society brings with it both efficiency and increased government control over its citizens. Despite the positive potential of technologies, the danger of censorship and surveillance remains omnipresent.

Overall, a complex picture emerges: the Chinese government is balancing between promoting digital innovation and the need for control over society. It remains to be seen to what extent these strategies will lead to an opening of the system or to a further closure. Imbach and Göbel's research will provide crucial insights into the digital and social dynamics in one of the world's most influential countries.