Internet Corporations as Intermediary Between State and Society in China

While discussing the political impact of ICT in authoritarian regimes, scholars and observers tend to focus predominantly on the ability of the government to co-opt or even force Internet corporations to facilitate censorship and surveillance. Yet, few has examined the intermediary role played by Internet corporations to facilitate state-society bargaining, provide social service and resolve conflicts in authoritarian regimes. In this article, relying on semi-structure interviews with officials, experts and managers of internet corporations and case study of internet corporations in China, we argue that Internet corporations act as social intermediary between ordinary citizens and the state, and help to establish contact and feedback among state and citizens. The development of Fintech business is a typical example which offers small loans to previously marginalized small and medium companies or individuals for setting up and developing their business. The fast development of digital economy in China also creates additional job opportunities and help to solve unemployment problem as a result of economic slowdown. Therefore, by offering alternative opportunities and catering to the demands of previously marginalized segments of the society Internet corporations absorb social contentions and, in some areas, have replaced the government to be better service providers. Going beyond the existing focus on censorship and surveillance, we provide a new angle to understand state-society relation in authoritarian regimes in a digital age.