50 Cent Party: Difference between revisions
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Combine names, clarify they pejorative and unofficial. 50¢ pay is a rumor. Hu sezabout all i'net efforts not just about 5CP, "cynical about" useless, compare instead. "some are critical" is redundant |
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'''50 Cent Party''' ({{zh|c={{linktext|五|毛|党}}|p=Wǔ Máo Dǎng}}) and other names{{ref|reference_name_A|[a]}}, is a pejorative unofficial term<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/chinas-plan-to-use-internet-for-propaganda-20100713-109hc.html|title=China's plan to use internet for propaganda|first=John|last=Garnaut|date=2010-07-14|accessdate=2010-10-17|publisher=[[The Age]]}}</ref> for internet commentators working for the [[Government of the People's Republic of China]] that [[Spin (public relations)|spin]] bad news into good news on Chinese-language websites with comment features.<ref name="BBC1">Bristow, Michael.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7783640.stm China's internet 'spin doctors']. BBC News Online. December 16, 2008</ref> It is also derogatorily applied to pro-[[Communist Party of China|Communist Party]] [[blog]]gers by other Chinese internet users.<ref name=zhong/> In the professional sense, the name comes from the 50 [[renminbi|cents]] 'Party' members are rumored to be paid per post. |
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'''50 Cent Party''' ({{zh|c={{linktext|五|毛|党}}|p=Wǔ Máo Dǎng}}), also called '''50 Cent Army''', refers to paid [[astroturfing]] internet commentators working for the [[People's Republic of China]], whose role is posting comments favorable towards the government policies to skew the [[public opinion]] on various Internet message boards.<ref name="BBC1">Bristow, Michael.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7783640.stm China's internet 'spin doctors']. BBC News Online. December 16, 2008</ref> They are named after the 50 Chinese cents, or [[renminbi|5 mao]], they are paid per such post, other names are '''red vests''', '''red vanguard''' and the '''Five Mao Party'''.<ref name="elgan">{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Elgan |title=How China's '50 Cent Army' Could Wreck Web 2.0 |url=http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/columns/article.php/3795091/How+Chinas+50+Cent+Army+Could+Wreck+Web+2.0.htm |work=Datamation|publisher=JupiterOnlineMedia |date=2009-01-08 |accessdate=2009-01-11 }} </ref><ref name=zhong>Zhong, Wu. [http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JH14Ad01.html China's Internet awash with state spies]. Asia Times Online. August 14, 2008</ref> Conservative estimates<ref name="BBC1"/> put the strength of the 50 Cents Army in the thousands while radical estimates put their numbers as high as 280,000–300,000.<ref name="feer">{{cite news |first=David |last=Bandurski |title=China's Guerrilla War for the Web |url=http://www.feer.com/essays/2008/august/chinas-guerrilla-war-for-the-web |work= |publisher=Far Eastern Economic Review |date=2008-07 |accessdate=2009-01-11 }} </ref><ref>Fareed, Malik. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/sep/22/chinathemedia.marketingandpr China joins a turf war]. ''The Guardian''. September 22, 2008</ref> Their activities were described by Chinese President [[Hu Jintao]] as "a new pattern of public-opinion guidance".<ref name="radioau">{{cite news |first=Corrinne |last=Podger |title=China marshalls army of bloggers |url=http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/programguide/stories/200808/s2342236.htm |work= |publisher=Radio Australia |date=2008-08-21 |accessdate=2009-01-11 }} </ref> |
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They operate |
They operate on domestic websites, [[bulletin board system]]s, and [[chatroom]]s. Their role is to steer the discussion away from anti-party articulations, politically sensitive or "unacceptable" content<ref>[http://www.tibetanreview.net/news.php?cat=2&&id=1846 China employs army of piece-rate ‘netizens’ for online thought control]. Tibetan Review. January 2, 2009</ref> and advance the [[party line (politics)|party line]] of the Communist Party.<ref name="dnai">{{cite news |first=Venkatesan |last=Vembu |title=Big Brother 2.0 is here |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1218190 |work= |publisher=Daily News and Analysis |date=2009-01-02 |accessdate=2009-01-11 }} </ref> According to the Indian ''[[DNA (newspaper)|Daily News and Analysis]]'', "to this day, anyone who posts a blatantly propagandist pro-Communist Party message online is dismissed by increasingly cynical Chinese [[Netizen]]s as belonging to the Wu Mao Dang."<ref name="dnai" /> |
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According to the Indian ''[[DNA (newspaper)|Daily News and Analysis]]'', "to this day, anyone who posts a blatantly propagandist pro-[[Communist Party of China|Communist Party]] message online is dismissed by increasingly cynical Chinese [[Netizen]]s as belonging to the Wu Mao Dang (50 Cents Party)."<ref name="dnai" /> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Negative reporting of the authorities has increased on the internet in recent years.<ref name=cdt>Nan, Wu. [http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2008/05/chinese-bloggers-on-the-history-and-influence-of-the-fifty-cent-party/ Chinese Bloggers on the History and Influence of the “Fifty Cent Party”]. China Digital Times. May 15, 2008</ref> In one instance described on the [[China Digital Times]], the [[Jiaozuo]] City Public Security Bureau established a mechanism to analyse public opinion after criticism of the police by [[netizen]]s appeared on the internet regarding a traffic incident. The Bureau responded with 120 staff calling for the truth to be revealed in line with the public opinion, which gradually shifted and eventually supported the police position, denouncing the original poster.<ref name=cdt/><ref name=zhong/> In the aftermath of the [[2008 Weng'an riot |2008 Guizhou riot]], internet forums were filled with posts critical of the local authorities; the ''China News Weekly'' later reported that "the major task of the propaganda group was to organize commentators to past [sic] posts on websites to guide online public opinions." |
Negative reporting of the authorities has increased on the internet in recent years.<ref name=cdt>Nan, Wu. [http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2008/05/chinese-bloggers-on-the-history-and-influence-of-the-fifty-cent-party/ Chinese Bloggers on the History and Influence of the “Fifty Cent Party”]. China Digital Times. May 15, 2008</ref> In one instance described on the [[China Digital Times]], the [[Jiaozuo]] City Public Security Bureau established a mechanism to analyse public opinion after criticism of the police by [[netizen]]s appeared on the internet regarding a traffic incident. The Bureau responded with 120 staff calling for the truth to be revealed in line with the public opinion, which gradually shifted and eventually supported the police position, denouncing the original poster.<ref name=cdt/><ref name=zhong/> In the aftermath of the [[2008 Weng'an riot |2008 Guizhou riot]], internet forums were filled with posts critical of the local authorities; the ''China News Weekly'' later reported that "the major task of the propaganda group was to organize commentators to past [sic] posts on websites to guide online public opinions."<ref name=zhong/> |
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In March 2005, [[Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China]] did a [[purge]] of Chinese college bulletin board systems. The popular "Little Lily" BBS, ran by [[Nanjing University]], was forced to close. As a new system was prepared to be launched, school officials hired students as part-time web commentators, paid from the university's work-study funds, to search the forum for undesirable information and actively counter it with Party-friendly viewpoints. The project was a success. In following months, party leaders from the [[Jiangsu]] province began hiring their own teams.<ref name="feer"/> By mid-2007, web commentator teams recruited by schools, and party organizations were common across China. [[Shanghai Normal University]] employed undergraduates to monitor for signs of [[dissent]] and post on university forums.<ref name=nyt>[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/09/world/asia/09internet.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all As Chinese Students Go Online, Little Sister Is Watching]. ''The New York Times''. May 9, 2006</ref> However, they not only operate solely within political discussion, but also general discussions in which arguments are often alleviated.<ref name=nyt/> |
In March 2005, [[Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China]] did a [[purge]] of Chinese college bulletin board systems. The popular "Little Lily" BBS, ran by [[Nanjing University]], was forced to close. As a new system was prepared to be launched, school officials hired students as part-time web commentators, paid from the university's work-study funds, to search the forum for undesirable information and actively counter it with Party-friendly viewpoints. The project was a success. In following months, party leaders from the [[Jiangsu]] province began hiring their own teams.<ref name="feer"/> By mid-2007, web commentator teams recruited by schools, and party organizations were common across China. [[Shanghai Normal University]] employed undergraduates to monitor for signs of [[dissent]] and post on university forums.<ref name=nyt>[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/09/world/asia/09internet.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all As Chinese Students Go Online, Little Sister Is Watching]. ''The New York Times''. May 9, 2006</ref> However, they not only operate solely within political discussion, but also general discussions in which arguments are often alleviated.<ref name=nyt/> |
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==Range of Operation and Effects== |
==Range of Operation and Effects== |
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The [[Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China]] now holds regular training sessions, whose participants are required to pass an exam after which they are issued a job certification.<ref name="feer"/> |
The [[Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China]] now holds regular training sessions, whose participants are required to pass an exam after which they are issued a job certification.<ref name="feer"/> Conservative{{clarify|date=October 2010}} estimates<ref name="BBC1"/> claim thousands of such commentators while radical{{clarify|date=October 2010}} estimates put their numbers as high as 280,000–300,000.<ref name="feer">{{cite news |first=David |last=Bandurski |title=China's Guerrilla War for the Web |url=http://www.feer.com/essays/2008/august/chinas-guerrilla-war-for-the-web |work= |publisher=Far Eastern Economic Review |date=2008-07 |accessdate=2009-01-11 }} </ref><ref name="tw">Fareed, Malik. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/sep/22/chinathemedia.marketingandpr China joins a turf war]. ''The Guardian''. September 22, 2008</ref> |
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The |
The [[Hong Kong]]-based ''[[Apple Daily]]'' reported that although searches for "Wu Mao Dang" revealed searches, most were inaccessible and had been deleted.<ref>"China hires, trains 'online commentators' to influence public opinion - daily". ''Apple Daily''. October 5, 2007</ref> |
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The ''[[Washington Post]]'' compared the phenomenon to a practice by the [[John McCain presidential campaign, 2008|John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign]], in which McCain's campaign registered and rewarded internet commentators that promoted him or his [[talking point]]s with book signings and bus rides with the candidate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/06/AR2008080603589.html|title=Win Points for McCain!|first=Paul|last=Farhi|date=2008-08-07|accessdate=2010-10-17|publisher=[[Washington Post]]}}</ref> |
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Various sources have expressed widespread cynicism regarding the "50 Cent Army"<ref> UnMadeInChina.org [http://www.unmadeinchina.org/contStd.asp?lang=en&idPag=626 The Fifty-Cent Army] </ref><ref name="dnai">{{cite news |first=Venkatesan |last=Vembu |title=Big Brother 2.0 is here |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1218190 |work= |publisher=Daily News and Analysis |date=2009-01-02 |accessdate=2009-01-11 }} </ref>. |
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On international websites and discussion boards, "50 cent army" and such titles are used to dismiss anyone whose opinion is seen as supportive or moderate of Chinese government. These denunciations on both sides of the murky online public opinions has led to a secondary expansion of the political fault line.<ref>{{cite news |first=弦断有谁知 |title=五毛党”与“五美分党”的“爱国”是否太小儿科了点 |url=http://www.wyzxsx.com/Article/Class22/201001/126833.html |publisher=乌有之乡 |date=2010-1-20 |accessdate=2010-7-10 }} </ref> Contributing to the overtly exaggerated estimate for the number of the "50 Cent Party" membership in the hundreds of thousands, which in reality, likely numbers in the thousands or tens of thousands. |
On international websites and discussion boards, "50 cent army" and such titles are used to dismiss anyone whose opinion is seen as supportive or moderate of Chinese government. These denunciations on both sides of the murky online public opinions has led to a secondary expansion of the political fault line.<ref>{{cite news |first=弦断有谁知 |title=五毛党”与“五美分党”的“爱国”是否太小儿科了点 |url=http://www.wyzxsx.com/Article/Class22/201001/126833.html |publisher=乌有之乡 |date=2010-1-20 |accessdate=2010-7-10 }} </ref> Contributing to the overtly exaggerated estimate for the number of the "50 Cent Party" membership in the hundreds of thousands, which in reality, likely numbers in the thousands or tens of thousands. |
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* [[Internet censorship in the People's Republic of China]] |
* [[Internet censorship in the People's Republic of China]] |
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* [[Web brigades]], alleged bands of Russian Internet users with a similar role |
* [[Web brigades]], alleged bands of Russian Internet users with a similar role |
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==Notes== |
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*{{note|reference_name_A|a}} Other names include Five Mao Party (literally translated), 50 Cent Army, red vests, and red vanguard.<ref name="elgan">{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Elgan |title=How China's '50 Cent Army' Could Wreck Web 2.0 |url=http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/columns/article.php/3795091/How+Chinas+50+Cent+Army+Could+Wreck+Web+2.0.htm |work=Datamation|publisher=JupiterOnlineMedia |date=2009-01-08 |accessdate=2009-01-11 }} </ref><ref name=zhong>Zhong, Wu. [http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JH14Ad01.html China's Internet awash with state spies]. Asia Times Online. August 14, 2008</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 03:35, 18 October 2010
50 Cent Party (Chinese: 五毛党; pinyin: Wǔ Máo Dǎng) and other names[a], is a pejorative unofficial term[1] for internet commentators working for the Government of the People's Republic of China that spin bad news into good news on Chinese-language websites with comment features.[2] It is also derogatorily applied to pro-Communist Party bloggers by other Chinese internet users.[3] In the professional sense, the name comes from the 50 cents 'Party' members are rumored to be paid per post.
They operate on domestic websites, bulletin board systems, and chatrooms. Their role is to steer the discussion away from anti-party articulations, politically sensitive or "unacceptable" content[4] and advance the party line of the Communist Party.[5] According to the Indian Daily News and Analysis, "to this day, anyone who posts a blatantly propagandist pro-Communist Party message online is dismissed by increasingly cynical Chinese Netizens as belonging to the Wu Mao Dang."[5]
History
Negative reporting of the authorities has increased on the internet in recent years.[6] In one instance described on the China Digital Times, the Jiaozuo City Public Security Bureau established a mechanism to analyse public opinion after criticism of the police by netizens appeared on the internet regarding a traffic incident. The Bureau responded with 120 staff calling for the truth to be revealed in line with the public opinion, which gradually shifted and eventually supported the police position, denouncing the original poster.[6][3] In the aftermath of the 2008 Guizhou riot, internet forums were filled with posts critical of the local authorities; the China News Weekly later reported that "the major task of the propaganda group was to organize commentators to past [sic] posts on websites to guide online public opinions."[3]
In March 2005, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China did a purge of Chinese college bulletin board systems. The popular "Little Lily" BBS, ran by Nanjing University, was forced to close. As a new system was prepared to be launched, school officials hired students as part-time web commentators, paid from the university's work-study funds, to search the forum for undesirable information and actively counter it with Party-friendly viewpoints. The project was a success. In following months, party leaders from the Jiangsu province began hiring their own teams.[7] By mid-2007, web commentator teams recruited by schools, and party organizations were common across China. Shanghai Normal University employed undergraduates to monitor for signs of dissent and post on university forums.[8] However, they not only operate solely within political discussion, but also general discussions in which arguments are often alleviated.[8]
Range of Operation and Effects
The Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China now holds regular training sessions, whose participants are required to pass an exam after which they are issued a job certification.[7] Conservative[clarification needed] estimates[2] claim thousands of such commentators while radical[clarification needed] estimates put their numbers as high as 280,000–300,000.[7][9]
The Hong Kong-based Apple Daily reported that although searches for "Wu Mao Dang" revealed searches, most were inaccessible and had been deleted.[10]
The Washington Post compared the phenomenon to a practice by the John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign, in which McCain's campaign registered and rewarded internet commentators that promoted him or his talking points with book signings and bus rides with the candidate.[11]
On international websites and discussion boards, "50 cent army" and such titles are used to dismiss anyone whose opinion is seen as supportive or moderate of Chinese government. These denunciations on both sides of the murky online public opinions has led to a secondary expansion of the political fault line.[12] Contributing to the overtly exaggerated estimate for the number of the "50 Cent Party" membership in the hundreds of thousands, which in reality, likely numbers in the thousands or tens of thousands.
See also
- Big mama, the informal name for the Chinese Internet censors
- Golden Shield Project, a Chinese "national firewall" Internet censorship system
- Internet censorship in the People's Republic of China
- Web brigades, alleged bands of Russian Internet users with a similar role
Notes
- ^a Other names include Five Mao Party (literally translated), 50 Cent Army, red vests, and red vanguard.[13][3]
References
- ^ Garnaut, John (2010-07-14). "China's plan to use internet for propaganda". The Age. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
- ^ a b Bristow, Michael.China's internet 'spin doctors'. BBC News Online. December 16, 2008
- ^ a b c d Zhong, Wu. China's Internet awash with state spies. Asia Times Online. August 14, 2008
- ^ China employs army of piece-rate ‘netizens’ for online thought control. Tibetan Review. January 2, 2009
- ^ a b Vembu, Venkatesan (2009-01-02). "Big Brother 2.0 is here". Daily News and Analysis. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
- ^ a b Nan, Wu. Chinese Bloggers on the History and Influence of the “Fifty Cent Party”. China Digital Times. May 15, 2008
- ^ a b c Bandurski, David (2008-07). "China's Guerrilla War for the Web". Far Eastern Economic Review. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b As Chinese Students Go Online, Little Sister Is Watching. The New York Times. May 9, 2006
- ^ Fareed, Malik. China joins a turf war. The Guardian. September 22, 2008
- ^ "China hires, trains 'online commentators' to influence public opinion - daily". Apple Daily. October 5, 2007
- ^ Farhi, Paul (2008-08-07). "Win Points for McCain!". Washington Post. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
- ^ "五毛党"与"五美分党"的"爱国"是否太小儿科了点". 乌有之乡. 2010-1-20. Retrieved 2010-7-10.
{{cite news}}:|first=missing|last=(help); Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ Elgan, Mike (2009-01-08). "How China's '50 Cent Army' Could Wreck Web 2.0". Datamation. JupiterOnlineMedia. Retrieved 2009-01-11.