Facebook 'could be a spy tool'

• Source: Global Times
• [01:45 July 09 2010]
• Comments

Cui Baoguo, vice dean of Tsinghua University's School of Journalism and Communication, told the newspaper that the media has the power to transform an underdeveloped country and dismantle a government.

The CASS report further claimed that through social network websites, users' personal information such as mobile phone numbers can be collected by a third party. Private information can be compromised by analyzing the personal profiles, blogs and posts that Net users release online, along with their marital status and professions.

The mainland had 417 million Internet users by the end of May, representing 31.2 percent of the population, according to the China Internet Network Information Center.

Eric Chan, a 30-year-old office worker from Hong Kong who currently works in Beijing, said that although there can be discussions on politics on Facebook, it is an exaggeration to say it can be used for subversive purposes.

"Many local officials in Hong Kong have Facebook accounts to communicate with citizens and solicit their opinions," he said, adding that so-cial networking websites may help express people's voices.

However, Liu said some Internet control is justified. "In the name of freedom, some organizations or people are encouraging revolt. These are what we worry about."

"'Control' is a neutral word. If the government could better control the circulation of information online, it would be better for social stability," he said.

Song Shengxia contributed to this story