China’s cyber regulator has launched a hotline to report online criticism of the ruling Communist Party and its history, promising to fight the “historical nihilists” against the party’s 100th anniversary in July.
The tip line allows people to report fellow Internet users who “distort” the party’s history, attack its leadership and policies, slander national heroes and “deny the excellence of advanced socialist culture”, reads a statement issued by a arm of the Cyberspace Administration. of China (CAC) on Friday.
“Some with ulterior motives … spread historical nihilistic misconceptions online, maliciously distorting, denigrating and denying the party’s history,” the notice read.
“We hope that the majority of Internet users will actively play their part in overseeing 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.
China’s internet is strictly censored and most foreign social media networks, search engines and newspapers are banned in the country.
Internet authorities often increase censorship and online surveillance before major events, including historical anniversaries, political meetings, and sporting events.
The notice does not specify what penalties will be imposed on those reported by the hotline, but netizens in China are already being penalized by jail and other legal penalties for posting content that is critical to the province’s leadership, policies and history.
Legislative amendments issued earlier this year stipulate that people who “insult, slander or infringe on the memory of China’s national heroes and martyrs are punishable by up to three years in prison.
Last week, authorities in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu detained a 19-year-old man accused of making “insulting” comments about Japan’s 1937 occupation of Nanjing.
Chinese social media sites that do not censor critical content are also subject to financial sanctions and temporary suspension of service under current law.