BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s cyber regulator has launched a hotline to report online comments defaming the ruling Communist Party and its history, and pledged to crack down on “historic nihilists” ahead of the party’s 100th anniversary in July.
The tip line allows people to report fellow citizens who are “ twisting ” the party’s history, attacking its leadership and policies, vilifying national heroes and “ denying the excellence of advanced socialist culture ” online, according to a message from one branch of the Cyberspace Administration. from China (CAC) on Friday.
“Some with ulterior motives … have spread historical nihilistic misrepresentations online, maliciously distorting, denigrating and denying the history of the party,” the statement said.
“We hope that the majority of Internet users will actively play their part in the surveillance of society … and enthusiastically report harmful information,” he said.
“Historical nihilism” is a phrase used in China to describe public doubt and skepticism about the Chinese Communist Party’s description of past events.
The Internet in China is severely censored and most foreign social media networks, search engines and news outlets are banned in the country.
Internet authorities often increase censorship and online surveillance ahead of major events, including historic anniversaries, political rallies and sporting events.
The notice did not specify what penalties would be imposed on people reported through the hotline, but netizens in China are already facing jail time and other legal penalties for posting content critical of the leadership, policies and history of the province.
Legislative changes released earlier this year stipulate that people who “insult, slander or transgress” the memory of China’s national heroes and martyrs will face a prison sentence of up to three years.
Last week, authorities in East China’s Jiangsu province detained a 19-year-old man after making “insulting” comments online about Japan’s 1937 occupation of Nanjing.
Chinese social media sites that fail to censor critical content also face financial penalties and temporary suspension of services under current law.
Reporting by Cate Cadell; Editing by Kim Coghill