Online democracy pushing forward real reform

• Source: Global Times
• [08:08 January 12 2010]
• Comments

PO: Will the implementation of Internet real-name systems affect the free and democratic atmosphere in the Internet?

Xie: Everyone knows that anonymity is a feature of the Internet. Due to anonymity and interactivity, the Internet has attracted the attention and participation of many people, and has become an important way of reflecting public opinion.

Both the government and the people are concerned about the implementation of Internet real-name systems. In fact, the online virtual space is an extension of social reality, and the Internet is one part of the social credit system. Information dissemination on the Internet should be kept in good order.

However, if considering it from the perspective of media control, there is no sufficient basis for suspicion.

Social democracy exists in the reality of society and should follow the relevant laws and regulations. Therefore, online democracy cannot be an exception and should follow the relevant social ethics.

In fact, the current Internet technology can locate a specific IP address, and it is not a key issue to implement the real-name system.

We should be responsible for our words and actions in real life. Although China has household registration management and identity management, they cannot become obstacles to the construction of our democratic society.

PO: What's more important, online democracy or social democracy?

Wang: I think both are important. Online democracy and real democracy play different roles in the development of democratic politics.

Online democracy is mainly a reflection of public opinion, which tests whether our government officials are open and transparent, and whether public opinion can be quickly reported to the decision-making levels.

In this sense, online democracy is the concentrated reflection of public opinion.

However, the Internet cannot replace real democracy.

In my view, real democracy is guaranteed by a series of procedures, such as elections, voting, polls, error correction, removal, supervision, and so on.

From the current reality of China's democratic political development, I also clearly feel that there exists a gap between online democracy and real democracy.

Online democracy is developing very fast and the public can fully express their wishes via the Internet. However, real politics is lagging behind.

Therefore, I think China should focus more on the development of real democratic politics, and such development can be truly advanced only by accelerating the pace of political reform.