China, the great rival of the United States—and the second most powerful country in the world (economically speaking)—has a certain problem with freedom of expression, a consequence of being an authoritarian country with a single party and a single leader. In their mission to continue expanding their unique worldview, they have taken another step: controlling satellite internet.
Beijing has published its proposed regulations for satellite broadband, which include the requirement for operators to perform real-time censorship.
In its latest draft regulations, the Cyberspace Administration of China proposes that organizations or individuals using terminal equipment with direct connection to satellite services are forbidden from:
“Producing, copying, publishing, or disseminating content prohibited by laws and administrative regulations, such as content that incites the subversion of state power, overthrows the socialist system, endangers national security and interests, damages the national image, incites the secession of the country, undermines national unity and social stability, promotes terrorism, extremism, ethnic hatred, ethnic discrimination, violence, pornography, and false information.”
The government wants to control everything, no matter how we access the network
It clarifies that the affected equipment includes handheld, portable, and fixed civilian terminals, as well as terminals installed in aircraft, ships, and vehicles—essentially, any device that allows users to access satellite communication systems for voice calls, text messages, and data exchange.
The document states that providers must adjust their operations to national security and network security requirements, and avoid illegal activities.
This includes complying with Chinese cybersecurity laws, data security, and personal information protection, in addition to potentially being responsible for user activities.
“If a direct satellite service provider of terminal equipment discovers that a user has posted or transmitted information prohibited by laws and regulations, they must immediately stop the transmission, take measures such as deletion in accordance with the law, preserve the relevant records, and report to the competent authorities,” stipulates the Chinese censorship regulation.
The regulations even require that anyone using satellite broadband to publish news—distribute video and audio content—must obtain a license. The deadline for receiving comments is October 27, 2024.
China launched its first space broadband satellites in August. In total, 108 satellites are expected to be launched this year to initiate the Qianfan constellation, followed by 540 more in 2025. China aims to have 15,000 satellites in low Earth orbit by 2030 and cannot miss the opportunity to control them all.
