In accordance with the classic observation: "On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog", the Internet has created the biggest anonymous empire in human history. Following on from former CIA employee Edward Snowden's disclosures, an updated version of the phrase seems appropriate - "On the Internet, you don't know how many dogs are watching you."

Revelations concerning the US government's Prism program have exposed several secret intelligence surveillance programs. The public has learned that the US intelligence agencies have not only been monitoring American citizens' private data like emails, online chat records, videos and photos, but also copying the entire body of network information passing in and out of the US via undersea fiber optic cable. In order to obtain the "best and most reliable information", the US has also been pursuing a long term strategy of invading the privacy of other countries and regions

Long-fermenting information security issues have been brought to a head by the disclosures, and the US has yet to provide a satisfactory explanation to the international community.

As people continue to open new spaces for social interaction, the Internet's security situation grows ever more complex. Disinformation, defamation, fraud, pornography and other illegal activities are propagated under cover of Internet anonymity, while illegal spying, control, theft, abuse, and other criminal acts are also spreading.

Data suggests that cyber-crime causes annual economic losses to Chinese netizens of almost 300 billion Yuan. Consequential damage caused by the disclosure of personal information and invasion of privacy is hard to measure in financial terms.

Nevertheless it is now apparent that, as the birthplace of Internet technology, the US and other Western governments have been conducting cross-border network monitoring and information theft which has served only to make the already serious network security situation worse.

China was a latecomer to the Internet. The Chinese government's attitude to the Internet has always favored active use, scientific development, management by law, and pursuit of security. Laws and regulations like the Telecommunications Regulations of the People's Republic of China, the Internet Information Management Services, and the Decision on Safeguarding Internet Security adopt as guiding principles the protection of freedom of speech and personal privacy, and the healthy development of the Internet. Under the umbrella of these laws and regulations, China's network has developed rapidly, resulting in high Internet penetration, booming network technology, and thriving e-commerce.　

China's approach to Internet management never talks about "absolute freedoms". Any person's words and deeds must be restrained by the law. However, under this principle, we fully respect the citizen's legitimate rights of expression and attach great importance to the protection of personal information.

It is hypocritical and suspect to promote the removal of network controls in pushing for "free flows of information", while secretly eavesdropping on private citizens.

In the era of big data, network information security is a mutual challenge for all people. It is not an easy task to establish a reasonable balance between the protection of individual privacy and the maintenance of public safety. Adopting double standards on the issue will only create moral ambiguity and result in unfortunate embarrassments. Mutual and fair-minded respect, communication, equality and cooperation, however, can work together to build peace, security, openness and cooperation in cyberspace.