Everyone is happy with China’s internet policies, reports China’s state media

Independent media outlets like this blog are often critical of China’s internet policy, which is often characterized by tight control and outright censorship. Just a few days ago, for example, one of China’s most popular microbloggers was banned from posting for life after going a bit too far in his criticism of the government. But that’s much ado about nothing, according to China’s government-run media outlets. China’s internet policy is great!

That’s the conclusion one would draw from a survey reported by China’s state-run Global Times newspaper, which says that 98.1 percent of China’s net users support President Xi Jinping’s internet policies. According to the paper, 12,600 net users across 50 cities were surveyed. Amazingly, exactly 98.1 percent of people also supported China’s internet forum with America will have a positive influence, and exactly 98.1 percent also felt that the government should enact specialized laws to protect internet security.

I’m not sure who the other 1.9 percent of people taking this survey were, but they obviously didn’t get the memo.

If you’re not skeptical of these results, you definitely should be. It’s tough to get 98 percent of people to agree on anything, let alone something as controversial as Chinese internet policy. The survey is, if anything, an indicator of just how important it is to Xi’s regime to maintain strict control of the internet and manufacture an atmosphere of approval for his policies. It’s also a reminder of how unreliable political surveys are in a country where political speech is not free.

(h/t to the New York Times‘s Chris Buckley for spotting this)