Internet activists loud, but shy

• Source: The Global Times
• [22:00 May 20 2009]
• Comments

By Bai Ping

Few people in China’s anonymous cyberspace use their real names when circulating a petition or exposing wrongdoing.

I’ve been examining the role of young Internet users in Chinese online activism over the past year. Due to time constraints, I’ve only examined the well-known online campaigns promoting nationalism, the rights of marginal social groups and anti-corruption.

I found, among other things, that young online activists rarely reveal their true identities. Those I encountered in the course of my research who did can probably be counted on the fingers of one hand.

They include Rao Jin, 23, who in March 2008 launched anti-cnn.com to counter perceived distorted reports on China by Western media. And earlier this year college student Li Ning, 21, emerged from the blogosphere to participate in an official inquiry into an unusual prison death in Yunnan Province.

But many other examples of collective online action are driven by anonymous, mostly young Internet mavericks. They vie for the attention of millions of silent, nameless “lurkers” who read discussions but seldom interact during their visits.

Obviously, people are reluctant to reveal their identities online because bosses are always watching. The opposition can easily find out who the troublemakers are if they don’t protect their privacy.

One young graft buster known as “Demons and Monsters 2009” has spoken to the press, on condition of anonymity, about his sophisticated methods to conceal his identity online, including using foreign proxy servers so his computer couldn’t be traced.