Did you hear that the world’s first online platform designed to fight Internet fraud will soon be implemented in China? The new project marks the collaboration between the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau and Quihoo 360, a well-known provider of Internet security solutions and anti-virus software. This is a unique attempt to reduce the number of people who become the victims of skilled scammers who rely on viruses to conduct fraudulent activities. According to the Economist, China’s reputation has constantly been affected by major online fraud scandals; therefore its intention to put an end to Internet-based illicit activities is justifiable.
How Does the New Scammer Trap Work?
Fanzhapian.360.cn is the anti-fraud platform that will be accessed by users who will want to report a fraud. Net users are asked to file a complaint as soon as they stumble across a dubious situation that could expose them to a fraudulent action. Every single complaint will be verified by representatives from the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau. If the accusations are true, officials employed by this institution will take matters into their own hands by alerting all Net users and signaling the danger. The end goal is to identify and discourage scamming groups, by forcing them to invest much more money in viruses that would have to be updated regularly.
All in all, this seems to be a good plan, created to target websites sending fake advertisements and spreading viruses to deceive users and make them fall into their traps. Moreover, China seems determined to reinforce Internet supervision. At this point, this nation plans to go against websites displaying sexual advertisements via pop-up windows. The circular released by National Office against Pornographic and Illegal Publications reveals that all forms of pornographic web content, including photos, text and videos will be removed in the near future.
Why Is China So Determined to Improve Internet Supervision?
In this context, one question seems to be on everybody’s lips: is this radical decision good or bad? In other words, how does this measure impact everyday people who are surfing the Internet to stay informed, make purchases, and get in touch with different categories of other users?
Government + Internet = Good?
The government staying NEUTRAL was a great thing for Europe. Net Neutrality ensures unlimited, indiscriminative access to online info for all categories of users and stops media moguls and institutions from imposing their dictatorship. When government regulates something – like this fraud regulator, governed by the police, one question comes to mind: why does it actually get involved? Does it take action because it wants to protect the users’ best interest of does it follow its own secret agenda? We are not big fans of conspiracy theories, but we can’t help but wonder: why has the Chinese government taken such a sudden interest in digital frauds and why does it feel the need to be the first to launch an online platform designed to fight Internet fraud?
Is the Chinese government stepping behind the Internet good in any way? Only time will tell. In our last blog about Internet regulations, we saw that neutrality for the Internet on the part of the government was an excellent thing for our Internet freedoms. Clearly, Internet freedom should be listed as one of our basic rights, especially since the Internet belongs to no one and everyone at the same time.
