Chinese Xi Jinping’s tough internet sell to talent
President calls for greater tolerance of criticism online, as authorities struggle to harness web for economic growth and keep a grip on content
Last week, two interesting developments focused attention on China’s booming internet industry, which has not only fast become one of the key engines of economic growth but also turned into an ideological battleground over which the mainland authorities are struggling to exert greater control.
On Tuesday, President Xi Jinping chaired a meeting of high-level officials and top internet tycoons, calling for “greater tolerance and patience” of online criticism, and vowing more support for e-commerce.
But just a day earlier, the authorities suspended Papi Jiang, one of China’s most famous video bloggers, for use of “foul language”.
And on Friday, news emerged that Apple’s iTunes Store and The Walt Disney Company’s DisneyLife service were quietly closed under the new Regulation for the Management of Online Publishing Services, which took effect early last month.
The two conflicting messages show the mainland authorities’ struggle between harnessing the tremendous potential of the internet to aid economic growth and exerting greater control over online content.
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Xi, who personally heads a central government leading group on cybersecurity, urged officials to welcome online criticism, and use the internet to better understand mainlanders’ concerns and wishes, Xinhua reported.