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Jul. 17 – According to the China Internet Network Information Center, internet users in the country have now reached 338 million, a 13.4 percent increase from the previous year’s number.
That is 32 million more than the population of the United States following February 2009 estimates. In comparison, the second highest number of internet users in the region is Japan with 94 million, India with 81 million, South Korea with 36.5 million and Indonesia with 25 million, based on figures reported by the Internet World Statistics.
The number of internet users in China shows how powerful the mechanism for China’s internet censorship is, called the Golden Shield Project sometimes referred to as the Great Firewall of China.
The system routinely screens out content that Beijing feel is politically sensitive or pornographic by preventing certain IP addresses from being routed in during times of unrest or controversy.
However, the center’s report said that although internet users in China are more, internet penetration is only 25.5 percent. Online penetration in the United States reaches more than 70 percent, said the AP.
The issue of internet use in China is controversial. Recently, Beijing’s demands to include preloaded censor-blocking software in all pcs sold in the country was met with protests both locally and internationally.
