The Chinese government's latest move to introduce a national internet ID system has ignited a fierce debate both within China and abroad. The Ministry of Public Security and the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) recently unveiled draft regulations that would require internet users to obtain a digital ID before going online. Although officials claim the IDs are voluntary, critics argue the proposal is a thinly veiled attempt to further stifle dissent and tighten state control over the internet.

The draft, which is open for public comment until the end of August, has already drawn sharp criticism from netizens and experts alike. The timing of the proposal, coinciding with the Chinese Communist Party's annual Beidaihe meeting of top leaders, has fueled suspicions about its underlying motives.

This move is not without precedent. In December 2023, the Xi Jinping administration gamified censorship through a national internet law quiz, pushing citizens to absorb state-approved content on cyber regulations. The quiz, a brainchild of the CAC, highlighted Xi’s thoughts on the rule of law and other key internet regulations, underscoring the regime's relentless push to control online discourse.

China’s crackdown on digital freedom dates back even further. In 2021, the government launched an aggressive campaign to "clean" the internet, targeting apps that violated data laws and ordering the removal of content deemed inappropriate. This sweeping campaign instilled fear among online operators, who faced strict regulations, particularly during periods when children were most active online.

A recent article in the New York Times highlighted the already formidable challenges of maintaining online anonymity in China, where users must verify their identities with phone numbers tied to personal identification. The new internet ID system, experts warn, could centralize this verification process under direct government control, making anonymity nearly impossible.

While China introduced online real-name verification over a decade ago, the proposed internet ID system appears to have a more ominous purpose: to tighten the government’s grip on online speech. Despite the government’s claims that the ID system will protect personal data, critics argue it is a pretext to expand state surveillance.

According to the CAC’s guidelines, the digital IDs would replace real names when signing up for online accounts. Although officials insist that obtaining an ID is voluntary, skeptics fear that platform companies will eventually bow to government pressure, barring users without IDs from accessing their services.

"This is not about privacy protection; it’s about controlling what people say online," wrote one critic in a post that was quickly deleted by Chinese authorities. Many are drawing parallels between this proposal and the health code apps used to enforce strict lockdowns during the pandemic—apps that still evoke bitter memories for many Chinese citizens.

Despite these concerns, the Ministry of Public Security and the CAC maintain that the national internet ID is intended to prevent online fraud and reduce the excessive collection of personal data by internet platforms. Yet, experts warn that the system could vastly expand the government’s ability to monitor online activity, further eroding the already limited digital freedoms in China.

Legal scholars have also voiced their apprehension. Lao Dongyan, a law professor at Tsinghua University, criticized the ID system as a mechanism for routine social control, while Shen Kui of Peking University warned that it could make people afraid to use the internet.

As the public comment period draws to a close, the world watches closely to see whether China will move forward with what could be one of its most draconian measures yet—a system that, under the guise of security, threatens to silence dissent and tighten the state’s control over cyberspace.