Jingjing and Chacha

Jingjing and Chacha (a pun on the Chinese word for police, zh-cp|c=警察|p=jǐngchá) are the cartoon mascots of the Internet Surveillance Division of the Public Security Bureau in Shenzhen, China. Debuting on January 22, 2006, they are used to, amongst other things, inform Chinese Internet users what is and is not legal to consult or write on the Chinese Internet. According to the director of the Shenzhen Internet police, " [we published] the image of Internet Police in the form of a cartoon [...] to let all internet users know that the Internet is not a place beyond of law [and that] the Internet Police will maintain order in all online behavior." [cite web | title= Image of Chinese Internet Police: Jingjing and Chacha | work=China Digital Times | url=http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2006/01/image_of_internet_police_jingjing_and_chacha_online_hon.php| accessdate= April 22 | accessyear=2006]

The Shenzhen police plan to place images of the two characters on the main page of all Shenzhen websites and bulletin boards, creating an online 'police presence' that works to remind citizens to monitor their own behavior in accordance with the law, much as a visible police presence does in the real world. [cite web | title= Cyber Police to Guard All Shenzhen Websites | work=China.org | url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/government/154200.htm | accessdate= April 22 | accessyear=2006 - "Originally published in Shanghai Daily, January 5, 2006" ] Clicking on the images will take a user to either of the characters' own personal webspace, [ [http://66110.qzone.qq.com Jingjing's site] and [http://777110.qzone.qq.com Chacha's] ] where Chinese Internet users can learn about the laws and regulations related to Internet, keep up-to-date on the newest Internet policies, and submit questions to Jingjing and Chacha live through the instant messaging service Tencent QQ or through their blogs. In addition to engaging the public on Internet censorship-related issues, they also handle cases relating to computer viruses, computer crimes, and other such matters. As of January 2006, there were six police officers assigned to carry out these duties.

In August 2007, Beijing police announced a similar campaign using animated officers. The Beijing version of the characters will appear every half hour on 13 of China's top web portals and display messages about Internet laws and conduct. [cite web |url= http://www.siliconvalley.com/ci_6739873?nclick_check=1|title= Beijing police launch Web patrols|accessdate=2007-08-28 |date= 2007-08-28|publisher= Associated Press]

Criticism

Despite these extra functions, the "China Digital Times" reported that it was told by an official at the Bureau that the main purpose of Jingjing and Chacha was still just to "intimidate" users, openly reminding them to "self-regulate their online behavior" ("see" chilling effect) [cite web | title= Google's China problem | work=The New York Times | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/magazine/23google.html?pagewanted=all| accessdate= April 22 | accessyear=2006] .

ee also

*Internet censorship in the People's Republic of China
*Internet in the People's Republic of China
*Computer crime
*Big mama
*Chilling effect (term)

References