Regulation of Cyber Space: An Analysis of Chinese Law on Cyber Crime

Since the advent of the network era, different countries adopted different stance on maintaining social order in cyber space; soft, strong, or medium. In China, as in some other countries in the same group, a tough approach has been taken from the beginning. The purpose of this article is, by studying a series of legal actions against cyber crime, to explore in to the Chinese model of regulation of cyber space. In order to exercise control over the Internet, China has implemented statutory laws and administrative regulations revolving activity criminalizing, content filtering and user monitoring so as to maintain security and stability at both community and state levels. A tight legal and regulatory network has gradually weaved through recruitment of cyber police, investment on security technology, regulations on communications enterprises, and surveillance over users. Regardless of critics, this model was proved to have the merits of effectiveness in the specific socio-legal context in a short term.