Internet users applaud govt cyberspace regulations

More than 90 percent of Chinese netizens are aware of government moves to manage the Internet by rule of law, according to a survey released on Wednesday.

Cybersecurity has been a hot topic among netizens, with more than 98 percent of them saying they have focused on cyberspace-related legislation and regulation, a survey by Horizon Research Consultancy Group found.

The online survey, conducted from Jan 28 to Feb 6, received responses from more than 12,600 netizens who had graduated from a two-year college or above in 50 big cities across the country, including Beijing, Kunming and Shenyang.

Applauding the attitude and efforts to govern cyberspace through legislation, 74 percent said they look forward to regulations on Internet technology, including the use of security software and online firewalls, the survey said.

Meanwhile, 71 percent expected to see clear rules on how to broadcast information online.

Nearly 65 percent of participants gave thumbs-up to an online environment that is safer, but they also expected more from the rule of law in cyberspace based on unpleasant experiences in the past, according to Zhang Hui, who helped conduct the survey.

"The biggest concern among the participants is the release of private information. For example, about 38 percent of them worried that their personal information will be stolen by Trojan horses or malicious applications," Zhang said.

Also, one-fifth of the participants were concerned that their computers and mobile phones could be attacked by phishing websites, and about 11 percent thought that spreading pornographic material online would be a negative influence on the next generation, she said.

"The participants also expected the government to take measures to fight fraud on the Internet and clean up fake information," she added.

Guan Hongtao, 26, a netizen in Shaanxi province, said that the online environment has become safer, especially on some online payment platforms.

"Although there are many procedures I must follow to register a bank account on a website, I'd like to be patient and abide by them because the payment security relates to my interests," Guan said.

"After e-mail, phone numbers or even identity card numbers are released, more and more netizens, including me, have paid attention to privacy protection, which is why I also keep an eye on legislation."

He added that Internet surfers need more capability to distinguish online fraud and enhance security awareness.

What participants worried about most

? Privacy leak by Trojan horse or malicious software or applications

? Personal information stolen by phishing websites

? Computers or mobile phones attacked by cybervirus

? Negative effects of online pornography on next generation

? Security of online property