MCLC: public opinion monitoring software

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: Long Cheng <Long.Cheng at rnw.org>
Subject: public opinion monitoring software
***********************************************************

Source: pao-pao.net (8/19/14):
https://a248.e.akamai.net/f/1/1/1/dci.download.akamai.com/35985/159415/1/p/
?u=article/154

Tool of censorship: public opinion monitoring software in China

The Public Opinion (PO) monitoring software that China mainly uses are
MYYQ and Barfoo. The prices range from 60 thousands to several millions.
Since NPST uses MYYQ in their training, this report will also take MYYQ as
example, to explain PO monitoring software in detail.

MYYQ is produced by Xiamen Meiya Pico Information Co.,Ltd. This company
was founded in 1999 and listed in 2011 in Shenzhen. It is one of the only
two listed enterprises in digital forensics industry in the world (the
other one is Guidance from the US). Meiya has been focusing on
technologies of digital forensics and network information security. Its
main clients are judicial authorities, political-legal departments
(Industry and Commerce, Tax, Customs, Journalist etc.), regulatory
administrations (for bank, securities and insurances), financial
institutions and large-scale public institutions. Since Meiya has found
favor in so many government agencies’ eyes, it is not hard to guess how
strong its background can be.

Six main functions

When you enter the start menu of Meiya, you will easily find six main
functions of this software: Searching, Real-Time Inspection, PO in Focus,
Events in Focus, Figure in Focus and Spotlights. These functions cover all
aspects like keywords searching, real-time network monitoring, real-time
keywords monitoring, event monitoring and data analysis, real-time person
monitoring and PO spotlights monitoring.

With “Searching” the user can get the latest PO information and data in
the history by tying the keywords in. There are also filters such as
searching range, searching result, searching time, indexing mode (inside
the province or inside the city), which help to get the accurate required
information quickly. Searching function works like an upgraded version of
Google Search.

The user can set up intensive monitoring websites (such as Baidu News,
Sina, and cn.reuters.com) and uses Real-Time Inspection to follow the
information on these websites. Monitoring websites is the main function of
Real-Time Inspection.

PO in Focus is used to discover public opinions and sort them out
according to the user’s requirements. It collects data the first time and
sends a warning. For example, if the custom tag is 18th CPC National
Congress, then all the information about that will be updated in
real-time. PO in Focus is mainly responsible for monitoring keywords.

If there is already an event and the user wants to follow the news about
it, Event in Focus can be used. This function evaluates how high the risk
is if the news is spread. It also analyzes the reason and the trends of
the event, collects latest news, media opinions, and public’s replies on
the main websites, then sends a report. Event in Focus is mainly used for
monitoring emergencies and mass incidents.

Figure in Focus is used to follow the speech of the key figures on the
internet. The user can add the virtual identities on different websites
like forum, blog etc. to the system. By collecting and analyzing the data,
the figure can be identified and the user can see whether he is an
internet marketer. Figure in Focus cares for monitoring online “figures”.
Spotlights monitors what the recent hottest topics on the internet are.

These six main functions of Meiya feed different monitorial requirements
of keywords, websites, events, persons and hot topics. Besides that, Meiya
also offers other effective tools such as delivering information, PO
guidance, PO bulletin and working platform.

All the monitoring is based on the keywords

Hot topics, sensitive, negative or urgent information, tendency analysis,
virtual identity and warning model can all be operated by MMYQ, under the
condition that the custom keywords are set by the user.

The user chooses keywords according to his own requirements. Central
government doesn’t require the departments to set the same keywords,
unless during some special period. During the 18th CPC National Congress,
“18th CPC National Congress” was set as keywords by governments at all
levels.

The most common keywords are the names of the cities, government
departments, leading cadres, jurisdiction etc. For instance, the common
keywords in the PO monitoring group in Shanghai are “Shanghai government”
and “Han Zheng” The upcoming event “Conference on Interaction and
Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA)” is also set as an event
keyword.

If the net citizens want to avoid their posts being monitored, the easiest
way is to mask the keyword. If “18th CPC National Congress” is disguised
as “18 big”, the chance that it get monitored is lower, so the chance that
the post get deleted also becomes lower.

Weak point: foreign website monitoring

The main target market of MYYQ is Chinese Mainland. The focus is inland
network information. Since the vast majority influential foreign websites
are already blocked by the Chinese government, Meiya hasn’t paid much
attention on foreign websites in its design. Monitoring on foreign
websites is relatively weaker.

A weak monitorial function on foreign websites results from that Meiya
hasn’t implanted many foreign databases. Chinese foreign websites under
monitoring are epochtimes.com, stnn.cc, boxun.com, rfa.org,
china-review.com and aboluowang.com. The user needs to add the other
websites to the list in Real-Time Inspection if he wants to monitor other
websites as well. If a foreign website is blocked by the government, Meiya
can only monitor the website with the help of VPN. Another weak point is
that the foreign information Meiya gets delays from half an hour up to one
week, so it is not really “real-time”.

Original source and publisher can be traced

PO monitoring software shows the original source of an event, i.e. who
sent what information from which platform. The police can locate the
publisher in accordance with the data.

Besides, PO monitoring software also shows which medium has published the
most reports about a certain topic. If the keyword is “Bo Xilai”, Event in
Focus will show which media have related reports. If the monitoring
department has already issued a ban on this topic, the “disobedient” media
will be quickly recognized and undertake the penalty.

Chinese PO monitoring software can monitor websites, forums, blogs, weibo
posts and replies. With cooperation of software providers, QQ-group chat
can also be monitored. WeChat searching is not yet in the program of PO
monitoring software, except that national security involved information is
specially monitored. Using voice message is relatively safer. Monitoring
software only shows the duration of voice messages, but not the content.

Contact the writer at: info at pao-pao.net