Use of Fear to Regulate the Internet

ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ In 1998, the central government in Beijing established special forces of Internet security guards to monitor cyberspace activities on the Chinese Internet.Ê Over 200 of these Internet policemen were assigned to patrol computer networks at state companies and ministries.Ê However, as the number of Chinese Internet users continues to increase, Internet traffic becomes increasingly difficult to regulate.Ê In 1998, Qin Guang, the head of the Computer Department for the Shanghai Public Security Bureau, told U.S. News and World Report that ãOur goal is to have a security guard in every work unit.äÊ As Internet access grows more and more common to universities and the workplace, such tight regulation will become impossible for the government to maintain.Ê Additionally, as the Economist reported ãMoreover, the young, electronically talented workers needed to perform this supervisory role are likely to be more inclined (and certainly better paid) selling their services to the private sector rather than to the governmentâs Internet nannies.ä