You've Got Dissent! Chinese Dissident Use of the Internet and Beijing's Counter-Strategies : Chinese Dissident Use of the Internet and Beijing's Counter-Strategies

Chinese dissents are increasingly communicating via the Internet, but Beijing still has the upper hand. This Report Analyzes The Political Use Of The Internet By Chinese Dissidents, Falungong Practitioners, Tibetan Activists, And Other Groups And Individuals In The Prc And Abroad Who Are Regarded As Subversive By The Authorities In China. It Also Examines The Counterstrategies That Beijing Has Employed To Prevent Or Minimize The Political Impact Of Such Use Of The Internet. By Permitting The Global Dissemination Of Information With Greater Ease And Rapidity Than Ever Before, The Internet Enables Small Groups Of Activists, And Even Individuals, To Exercise Influence Disproportionate To Their Limited Manpower And Financial Resources. In Its Counterstrategies, The Prc Regime Has Made Some Use Of High-tech Solutions, And There Is Some Evidence That Beijing1s Technical Countermeasures Are Becoming Increasingly Sophisticated. Its Approach, However, Is Predominantly Low-tech Leninist, Employing Traditional Measures Such As Surveillance, Informants, Searches, And Confiscation Of Computer Equipment. Beijing's Countermeasures Have Been Relatively Successful To Date. No Credible Challenges To The Regime Exist Despite The Introduction Of Massive Amounts Of Modern Telecommunications Infrastructure. However, The Scale Of China's Information-technology Modernization Suggests That Time May Be On The Side Of The Regime's Opponents.--rand Abstracts. Ch. 1. Political Use Of The Internet In China -- Introduction -- The State Of The Internet In China -- The State Of Unsanctioned Ngos Inside China -- Falungong -- The China Democracy Party -- The Tibetan Exile Community -- Use Of The Internet -- Two-way Communication -- One-way Communication -- Measuring Success -- Future Trends -- Ch. 2. Government Counterstrategies -- Beijing's Dilemma: Control Versus Modernization -- The Nature Of The Chinese Information Security Environment -- Counterstrategies -- Low-tech Solutions For High-tech Problems -- High-tech Solutions For High-tech Problems -- Measuring Success -- Future Trends -- App. Dissident Web Sites. Michael Chase, James Mulvenon. Mr-1543. Includes Bibliographical References. Also Available In Pdf Format On The Rand Web Site. An Analysis Of The Political Use Of The Internet By Chinese Dissidents, Both In The Prc And Abroad, And The Counterstrategies That Beijing Has Employed To Prevent Or Minimize Its Impact. Although Prc Officials Have Responded To The Increased Use Of The Internet With Predominantly Traditional Measures, They Have Been Relatively Successful. No Credible Challenges To The Regime Exist At Present, Despite The Introduction Of A Massive Modern Telecommunications Infrastructure. However, Time May Be On The Side Of The Regime's Opponents. This report addresses the use of the Internet by Chinese dissidents, members of Falungong, Tibetan activists, and other groups and individuals in the People's Republic of China (PRC) and abroad who are regarded as subversive by the Chinese authorities.