China is set to reward anyone who gives important information concerning online “terrorist” content in its latest crackdown on extremism in cyberspace. The intensified campaign is meant to curb the recruitment and radicalization of extremists.
Based on the value of the tip-off, a person can receive a reward of up to 100,000 yuan ($15,210) for each tip, according to Reuters. In 2015, China doled out 2 million yuan worth of rewards.
An unnamed source from Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) told the Xinhua News Agency, "The Internet has become a channel for terrorists to spread extremist religious ideas, provoke ethnic conflicts, and advocate separatism."
However, there isn't yet an official statement from CAC with regard to the assertion.
The move comes shortly after China admitted that extremist organizations are actively utilizing microblogs like Weibo and WeChat to brainwash young susceptible women and children.
In December last year, the Iraqi military group Islamic State (ISIS) gave a short propaganda song on Mandarin in a blatant move to recruit Chinese Muslims. The four-minute song made its way to the Internet through jihadist channels, according to Jihadology. Uyghur Muslims have been the target in the Chinese-language song, together with the entire Muslim community in China.
As a result, the ruling Communist Party in the country is cracking down heavily on online content. It is set to protect its cyber warfare abilities, which would be less reliant on ground troops, in a move to boost its virtual fight.
In the white paper on military technique published in May 2015, Beijing's ministry of national defense said that it is looking forward to identify its forces to clinch "informationized local wars."
Giving unusual information on their efforts in 2015, CAC received reports of more than 20,000 cases, and gave out 2 million yuan. The government said in a statement that it faces a serious threat from Islamist militants and separatists in energy-rich Xinjiang, where many people died of violence in the recent years.