What public and whose opinion? A study of Chinese online public opinion analysis

Abstract

As a recently emerged information service on the Chinese Internet, online public opinion analysis (网络舆情分析) is a type of service to monitor, assess, and synthesize online public communication through automated software and trained individuals. This article provides an industry overview of the rise of online public opinion in China and examines the political economy of the People's Public Opinion Office. Second, this article looks at the marketing of the profession in news coverage, training materials, as well as published interviews with People's Public Opinion Office's managers and experts. Through a close reading of People's Public Opinion Office's published annual reports from 2007 to 2016 focusing on the issue of online rumor, this article delineates how the identification and prognostics of online rumor evolves with the State's anti-rumor campaign that aims to forestall or pacify collective action. In sum, this article sets to examine the professionalization and industrialization of online public opinion analysis as a part of the coevolutionary dynamics between the state and civil society in China. Using the government's anti-rumor campaign as an example, this article critically investigates the mediating role online public opinion analysis plays in the "sausage factory" of public opinion gauging and monitoring, which sets the basis upon which policymaking process is guided and justified.

Who should apologise: Expressing criticism of public figures on Chinese social media in times of COVID-19

“…Researchers differ in their views regarding the role of netizens' online opinion expression vis-à-vis internet censorship. Some hold optimistic views that Weibo facilitates socio-economic changes by disseminating collective actions (Jia, 2019). A strong criticism of the Chinese government's performance with weak political challenge is welcomed by the regime, as the criticism will help the government to respond to the public's need, face and fix problems, and provide quality public services (Shao, 2018).…”

“…The previous literature about online opinion expression is mostly found in the fields of media and communication (Han, 2018;Jia, 2019) and political science (Gu and Li, 2020;King et al, 2013). The focus of the scholarship is on the cat and mouse relationship between censors and proactive netizens, in particular, how the state oversees and censors netizens' Weibo interactions, what kinds of online comments get filtered, the dynamics between government and netizens, and how netizens counter online scrutiny (Han, 2015;King et al, 2013King et al, , 2014King et al, , 2017Shao, 2018;Zeng et al, 2019).…”

“…Weibo is the second most popular social media platform in China (DeGennaro, 2019) with up to 516 million monthly active users as of February 2020 (SinaTech, 2020). It has been a major platform for socio-political information dissemination, online expression and activism (Jia, 2019;Poell, 2014;Xiao, 2011). Weibo is a combination of Facebook and Twitter, but it also possesses unique functions.…”

Means for control over the activities of public authorities by civic democratic institutions: the conceptual framework analysis

“…A real opportunity for citizens to use democratic governance powers. If we consider the civic institutions influence from the standpoint of research, then it is worth highlighting several basic directions (Jia, 2019).…”

“Going Offline”: Social Media, Source Verification, and Chinese Investigative Journalism During “Information Overload”

“…Investigative journalists said that while they still use social media to find sources and stories (ie Participant 18, Participant 20), what is appearing online is not only in greater quantities but rooted in opinion. Even breaking news events and disasters across China are increasingly becoming moments for online users there to post seemingly "depoliticized" comments and discussions (Jia, 2019). However, these posts are often ripe with subtle political and opinion messages designed to influence others' opinions on the event, the government's handling of it, and any related social issues (Su, 2019).…”