Information: Olvana

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Information Overview

The People’s Republic of Olvana (PRO) maintains a large information environment, with its internet industries counted among the world’s most active. Olvana is, however, one of the world’s most restrictive media environments. Olvana will utilize its cyber capabilities against external opposition parties and foreign governments. Olvana will also attempt retain total control over the nation’s internal information environment by suppressing dissent within the populace over all communications mediums, though the internet remains the most free and accessible.

Onset of Information Age

Olvana leaped forward into the information age after the turn of the 21st century with much of their population going from no landline telephone directly to a cell phone. In 2000, there were about 40 million cellular subscriptions in Olvana. In less than 15 years, the number of cell phone subscribers reach over 800 million. The upward trend continues to this day passing the one billion mark. In 2012, there were about 300 million main phone lines in Olvana with the number falling each year since while the cell phone figure continued to rise. Olvanans, like much of the rest of the world, are ditching home phones in favor only having a cell phone with much of the landline usage restricted to businesses.

Contemporary Situation

Cell phones have become the most popular way to access the internet. There are currently over 800 million cell phones in use in Olvana through the various companies authorized to operate in the country. A few years ago, the Olvana government issued licenses for the launch of commercial 5G networks throughout the country. Olvana operates on the n79 band (4.8 – 4.9 GHz), n258 (24.75 – 27.5 GHz); n260 (37 – 40 GHz); and n259 (40 -42.5 GHz). 5G was initially directed at the cities, but it is Olvana’s intent to build 5G towers throughout the country in order over 90% of the population to have the ability to access 5G through their phones. In the cities, a cell phone is a necessity as it is used to apply for government pensions and social security; purchase plane and train tickets; and to purchase consumer goods.

Information Industries

Information Products (Content Industries)

News Media

The Olvanan government restricts both freedom of speech and press and seeks to control the narrative within the country. The media in Olvana, regardless of its source, can be linked back to the Olvanan government. The people are relying more on their mobile phones for news rather than the traditional print, radio, or television options. Almost every newspaper provides a digital version online as sales of the written version continue their 20-year downward trend. There are also drops in radio listeners and television viewers, but less than those in the print media.

Entertainment Media

The Olvana film business is catching up with Hollywood generating over $7 billion in gross box office revenue five years ago. This upward trend continues as the country’s appetite for entertainment cannot be sated. As the living standards of the Olvanan people continue to rise and with more discretionary income, cinema is one entertainment outlet for the people. There are major film stars in Olvana that cannot travel without being accosted by adoring fans. A few Olvanan films have been released in the U.S. and even with sub-titles, some of the films have done surprisingly well.

Social Media

Social Media is incredibly popular in Olvana. In the urban areas, a cell phone is a necessity, and smart phones are everywhere. Just as in the US, social media comes in a variety of formats ranging from personal to professional, and from text based content to audio and video formats. Olvanans under the age of 35 are likely to be found using multiple types of social media applications. Over 90% of Olvanans between the ages of 15-29 use some form of social media; 80% or more for those in the 30 -49 age range; and  dropping off for the older population. Even so, older Olvanans are turning to social media in order to connect with their children and grandchildren.           

Olvana allows some external social media companies (e.g., Facebook and Instagram) to operate in the country, but with restrictions. The Olvana government tells the foreign companies what websites to block. Whenever there is a negative post about the country or government, it usually means Olvana adds another website to its national blockage list. While social media is still heavily monitored by the government, the instantaneous ability to share information with a wide audience has turned some social media apps into outlets for alternative information. That said, the government is able to quickly censor unwanted content. Some social media applications, like twitter, are blocked by the Olvanan government. Despite this block, some Olvanans are still able to access apps like twitter through the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), however the punishment if caught can be severe. 

Olvana also has launched some of its own social media platforms in attempt to control its message. Many young Olvanan adults steer clear of these websites because they know they are under governmental control, and subject to frequent surveillance.

Information Services

Financial Institutions

With its large and international economy, Olvana’s financial institutions must operate in cyberspace in order to remain competitive on the global market. Like financial institutions in other countries, Olvana’s financial institutions are inherently vulnerable to cyber-attacks and hackers. To combat these threats, Olvana has developed a number of advanced systems to protect against and mitigate cyber-crime and cyber-attacks in order to protect their businesses and the private information of customers.

Control/Regulation

The Olvanan government controls the financial institutions within the country. While there may be powerful individuals operating these companies, they still must conform to the mandates of the government. If an individual operating one of these entities ever got out of line or did something rogue, the Olvanan security apparatus would rush in and arrest them to be replaced by someone who would do as directed. Urban Olvanans must use their cell phones to conduct banking business so the government can track almost every major financial transaction that occurs within its borders.

Medical System

Olvanan healthcare is a mixture of public and private medical institutions and insurance programs. About 95% of Olvanan citizens have at least basic health insurance coverage that covers about half of the medical costs. Recently, Olvana passed a law that directed that insurance cover 70% of all basic healthcare costs within five years. 

In urban areas, medical records are electronic and are on a secure server. Patients can access their medical records via an application on their phone so they have their medical records literally at the “tip of their fingers.” If a patient has to go to a hospital different than their normal one or to an unfamiliar doctor, the patient can provide their records directly to their new physician.

Control/Regulation

The Olvana government controls the majority of the hospitals in the country and the patients’ information as well. While there may be a degree of protections regarding patient confidentiality, government officials can easily gain access a patient’s record. International hospitals are able to afford their patients a higher degree of privacy due to the fact that they are not tied into the national patient database.

Legal/Criminal Records

All Olvanan legal and criminal records are digitized at the local level, but are maintained on a national criminal database. This database is accessible to those in the Olvanan criminal justice system—police departments, prosecutors, and other government officials granted access. Since the information is uploaded by local jurisdictions can leaded to administrative errors. Local access also creates an opportunity for corruption, but since corruption is dealt with harshly this happens only rarely. 

The Olvana police and security forces may extensive use of facial recognition software to identify potential threats to the country, agitators, or other people deemed undesirable. This information is loaded into a national database for access by any other law enforcement or government entity. The police use the large number of cameras throughout the country to track the movement of suspected dissidents, troublemakers, and criminals.

Control/Regulation

Legal and criminal records are maintained by the jurisdiction in which the legal transaction or criminal trial occurred. Olvana’s national government maintains an overarching system that integrates information from every jurisdiction within the country, however, al data and inputs into the system must be recorded and update by the jurisdiction. While this system typically works smoothly, it can lead to challenges where there are administrative records. Even if an individual is found not guilty, there is no reason to attempt to expunge any records by the accused. Once the information is in the national data base, it remains there permanently.

Navigation (Global Positioning)

Olvana has an established history in the development and use of navigation satellite systems. Currently, Olvana operates over 50 navigation satellite systems using E-band transponders. It is expected that the entire system will be completed in the next 12 to 18 months. The combined systems create a network of navigation services and provide coverage of the Asia-Pacific region. The services are free to civilians and licensed to the Olvanan government and military. Olvana sells the service to other countries in the Pacific at a much cheaper price than Western navigation networks.

Control/Regulation

The Olvana Space Agency (OSA) is responsible for all space related matters for the country. The OSA cooperates with the military to capitalize on the military capabilities of space. The OSA main responsibility is the planning, building, launching, and maintenance of all Olvanan satellites. This includes the navigation as well as communications satellites.

Electromagnetic Spectrum Management (Radio Frequency)

Olvana manages its electromagnetic spectrum similar to that of the U.S. where they authorize civilians to use certain frequencies while withholding other frequencies for military and government use. Within the last two years, Olvana auctioned off selected frequencies to install 5G service to its cell telephone users. The government is constructing 5G towers all over the country and expects that 90% of adults to have access to 5G technology within the next five years.

Control/Regulation

The Olvanan government strictly controls the electromagnetic spectrum within its borders. Only those authorized by the government to operate on specific bands can do so. Individuals who illegally use the airwaves are dealt with quickly and severely.

Information Distribution

Internet

Olvana has the one of the world’s largest number of internet users, but major obstacles concerning ease-of-access still exist. These obstacles include poor infrastructure, inefficient state-owned internet enterprises, and centralized control over international gateways. Olvana, however, hosts a significant amount of national bandwidth potential—currently more double than any Western nation.

An estimated 61% of the population has access to the internet on a daily basis, this number being higher in urban areas and lower in rural areas. Large numbers of internet users connect through cyber cafes and public computers, due to high demand and limited availability of privately owned access points. Mobile services are replacing fixed-line broadband as Olvana’s preferred means of accessing the internet, due to cost and inefficient service of other providers. Today, and estimated 90% of internet users in Olvana use their cell phones as their primary means for accessing the internet.

Infrastructure Support

Five state-run operators maintain Olvana’s gateways to the global internet, giving authorities the ability to cut off outside information requests. Additionally, all service providers must subscribe via the gateway operators under Ministry of Information Technology oversight. There are rumors that Olvana allows North Torbians hackers that work from inside Olvana access to the Internet.

Control Regulation

Current cybersecurity laws require internet companies in Olvana to censor information, register the users’ real names, and shut down services for security reasons as directed. A new law restricts use of virtual private networks throughout the country, in order to deny access to unauthorized sites from other countries. Olvana uses a sophisticated and evolving censorship apparatus—which utilizes both automated and manned processes—to monitor networks and block and filter material that criticizes or challenges government individuals or policies.

Television

The television industry in Olvana includes high-tech program production, transmission and coverage — though all content is controlled by the government. Cable systems usually carry all the Olvana Central Television channels in the national language. These broadcast a combination of news, sports, and historical programming. They may also carry a local channel for a particular province. An extremely small number of compounds with many foreign residents may carry selected channels from regional countries and select Western nations, with Chimera Television having the widest carriage under this rule. The number of private televisions continues to grow as Olvanans are increasingly seeking different content. Approximately 75% of all Olvanans have access to a television.

Infrastructure Support

There are over 2,500 channels in Olvana, with about 30% being government stations. There are a few national networks, but almost every province and large city has their own designated channel. Cable television is the transmission method in all urban areas. In rural areas, satellite television is becoming an option to those that can afford it. The Olvana government periodically cracking down on unlicensed satellite services, usually in the urban areas but sometimes in rural areas as well.

Control Regulation

Receiving satellite television signals without permission is illegal in Olvana. The Olvana government controls attempt to control the content of what is shown on all the channels. For the private channels, this is usually self-censorship as the government will take away their license to operate if they air content that questions the government’s authority or any of its political leaders. Programs that originate in another country must pass through an Olvanan-controlled satellite before being aired. This is so the Olvana government can black out content from external news sources or actual shows that cast their country in a bad light. The government has blacked out stories about any protests, dissidents, or scandals that make Olvana or its leaders look bad or foolish.

Radio

The radio industry in Olvana includes program production, transmission, and coverage, are also controlled by the government. About 80 percent of the populace can listen to a radio. The major radio companies are PRO National Radio and PRO Radio International. Additionally, every province has at least one radio station operated by provincial government, with at least two different channels providing general interest, as well as original programming in specialized areas such as music and business news.

Infrastructure Support

There are currently over 1500 radio stations in the country. Radio is the most widely used electronic media. Radio broadcasting is done over AM, FM and Shortwave, but internet radio is slowly taking over the market.

Control Regulation

The government has de facto control over the content for all the government channels. Non-government channels conduct self-censorship of their content to avoid being shut down. Sometimes a radio station will just stop operating, usually because the Olvana government deemed something broadcasted was offensive to the country or to one of its leaders. Any radio program from outside the country is routed through a government satellite in order to immediately shut it down if any anti-Olvanan views are expressed. Olvana Radio International (ORI), a government-sponsored station is the only Olvanan network allowed to be broadcast worldwide. ORI broadcasts over 300 hours of program every day including commentary, culture, current affairs, economy, entertainment news, politics and technology. ORI is broadcasted around the world in over 40 languages plus standard Olvanan and ranks fourth in overseas broadcasting time as well as languages in the world.

Print

Olvana has over 2000 daily and non-daily newspapers in circulation. Although Olvana has many newspapers, the front-runners are all government-run, such as, the People's Daily, Hong Kong Daily and the Independent Daily. The primary news agencies in Olvana are the Shanghai News Agency and PRO News Service.

Infrastructure Support

Olvana is the largest market in the world for daily newspapers with over 80 million copies sold daily. In 1970, there were only 45 newspapers in Olvana, all ran by the government. This rose to over 400 by 1980 and reached its zenith with 2,200 in 2006. While newspapers in other parts of the world are on the decline because of less readership, especially in the West, the drop has not been so precipitous in Olvana. While some Olvanan newspapers are now publishing an Internet edition, print editions continue to remain popular. This is especially true in the larger cities.

Control Regulation

Despite heavy government monitoring, print media has become an increasingly commercial market, with growing competition and diversified content. The newspapers still must practice self-censorship because if negative stories about any governmental department or leaders at any level could lead to the closure of the newspaper.

Telephone/Telecommunications

There are approximately 230 million fixed landlines in Olvana, but this number is slowly decreasing due to the shift towards mobile service. Mobile phone subscribers now number over one billion and this number will likely increase at a steady pace as more towers and additional providers are introduced to the country.

Infrastructure Support

Olvana is served by an extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges, connected by modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic satellite system. Olvana continues to develop its telecommunications infrastructure, and is partnering with foreign providers to expand its global reach. In recent years, an agreement was signed with a major telecommunications company to build the first next-generation optical cable system directly linking the West with Olvana. International telephone communications are provided by a number of submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. In addition, international access to satellite earth stations provides additional international overseas access.

Control Regulation

 Fixed landline and mobile services are controlled by three telecommunication companies owned and operated by the government. All approvals and licensing for new fixed landline and mobile services is conducted by the Ministry of Public Information.

Postal/Carrier

Olvana’s postal and courier systems are generally well established, reliable, and capable of moving significant amounts of freight throughout the nation. Along with the Olvanan national postal system, international freight providers and local freight forwarders are well entrenched in the nation. Olvana is the home to many specialty freight movement providers, such as heavy-lift aircraft and railway delivery.

Infrastructure Support

The Olvana Postal System and private delivery services are present throughout all urban areas. They will make deliveries directly to the destination address. In rural areas, it is common for the Olvana Postal System to drop off mail and packages in a central location. The expectation is that the recipients will come to pick up the package themselves or that the local community will ensure the mail/package is delivered to its final destination.

Control Regulation

Postal and carrier services are regulated by the government due to their role in the finance industry.

Oral Communication

Word-of-mouth is an important communications medium, especially in rural Olvana. While direct communication cannot replicate the amount of information shared within a population, direct communication may carry a higher degree of reliability among the audience due to the amount of distrust the audience may have with modern technology. Oral communication is limited in terms of how many people the message can reach and by its immediacy. With mobile technology gradually reaching rural areas, younger generations will likely displace word-of-mouth with social media services; as mobile subscriber numbers grow, traditional word-of-mouth channels typically becomes less prevalent. More every day, text, image, and short video loops are becoming the primary forms of expression for younger generations. The process of urbanization has broken down traditional community based networks, as families have moved to different cities. Despite the high population density in the cities and how people are so close to each other physically, there may be a greater separation in terms of relationships between Olvanans.

Infrastructure Support

NA

Control Regulation

The Olvana government attempts to control free speech by having neighbor turn in neighbor who speaks against the government or its leaders. The Olvana government even has a phone number where individuals can turn in suspected dissidents, troublemakers, or others for not supporting the communist regime.

Satellite

Olvana possesses a wide range of satellite capabilities. Most are suited for dual-use by the Olvanan People’s Army (OPA) and civilian users. These include communication and GPS satellites.

Infrastructure Support

Currently, Olvana operates seven commercial telecommunications satellites utilizing Ku-band transponders in a geostationary orbit. All satellites are powered by solar array panels. These commercial satellites may be used to support military operations when necessary. Additionally, the OPA operates four communication satellites using Ku and C band transponders. The satellites are in a geostationary-orbit powered by solar array antenna. The government also leases bandwidth from commercial satellite companies that support government and military operations when necessary.

Control Regulation

The OSA is responsible for all satellites launched by Olvana. There are no ability for a non-governmental entity to launch a satellite for Olvana soil. All foreign radio and television programming must go through an Olvanan satellite before being seen by its people. With a flip of a switch, an individual on the ground can immediately blackout a radio or television broadcast that an Olvanan censor deems inappropriate such as attacks on communism, the country, the government, or one of its leaders.

Internet of Things

Over the last decade, Olvana has made great economic gains and the people have begun to embrace technology—at least in the urban areas of the country. Middle class and above urban Olvanans have embraced the idea of a “smart home” with Wi-Fi and Blue Tooth enabled appliances that can be controlled by a smart phone. These changes are led by university students who return home after studying abroad in the U.S. or Europe where they saw how new technology affected everyone’s life. 

Even in lower class areas, smart phones are still popular as the Olvanan government wants its population to conduct business, communicate, shop, and do everything possible on line as it provides another tracking mechanism of its citizens. Without a smart phone, it is almost impossible to bank or interact with a government agency in Olvana. 

The internet of things also plays a role in public projects and the newest infrastructure developments as common place things such as traffic lights and street lights are integrated and digitalized. The influence and impact of the internet of things on Olvanan daily life can be seen by commuters who use their smart phone to purchase tickets to ride the bus, subway, or train to work. Users can also use the smart phone to determine when the next bus, subway, or train will arrive or if they are running late. These are all available on smart phone apps and uses Blue Tooth and Wi-Fi technology when and where a rider gets on or off the public transportation.

Infrastructure Support

The Olvana government recognizes the future of smart technologies and public works for reducing the work load on government employees. As smart phone continue to enable users to more easily pull information, the less government workers will have to focus on being able to push information out by answering questions. Using real time analytics, empowered by machine learning, Olvana is hoping to lower costs, reduce maintenance requirements, and overcome any challenges associated with rapid growth and urban development.

Control Regulation

While there is great potential with this technology, Olvana is aware that they could be losing control of their people and that the new technology is vulnerable to cyberattacks. The Olvana government continuously attempts to improve electronic security measures associated with the internet of things. There is always a struggle to choose between higher costs projects with better security and lower costs products with less security. Two decades ago, Olvana always chose fast and cheap in producing products with a short shelf life. Olvana may have recently turned the corner to choosing something slightly more expensive, but with a higher expectation in performance.

Information Cohorts (Information Consumption)

Information cohorts should not be confused with organized groups and entities. Cohorts are grouped by shared traits, behaviors, and or beliefs regarding how they engage with information, but they are not a cohesive organizations. These are examples of cohorts that are found within Olvana, however they are not the only information cohorts that exist. It is possible for an individual or group of individuals to be part of multiple information cohorts based upon how they identify themselves.

Cohort: Generational - Baby Boomers and Generation X

Baby-boomers consist of the generation of Olvanans born between 1946 and 1965 while Generation X are those born between 1965 and 1980. The primary difference between the two are that Gen Xers were more exposed to computers and electronic devices in schools than baby-boomers. Baby-boomers were forced to learn about digital device as an adult. The younger the person in the cohort, the more comfortable they are with technology. Baby-boomers remember the hard times Olvana struggled through during its infancy as a communist state. Times were better for the Gen Xers, especially in the urban areas, as Olvana built itself into a worldwide economic power. Baby-boomers remember the founder of modern Olvana, but Gen Xers only read about him.

Biases

On average, the older a person is the less likely they are to embrace the information age and feel comfortable working with electronic devices. Baby-boomers are still the ones reading the newspapers instead of getting the news from their cell phones. Still, both baby-boomers and Gen Xers have had to adjust to the Olvanan government’s acceptance of the electronic age. Those living in the urban areas must use their cell phone, how much ever they hate it, to purchase tickets to travel or a myriad of other everyday activities. 

Perceived Antagonist Cohorts

Many baby-boomers and Gen Xers think those younger than them do not know how easy they have it in today’s modern Olvana. For the most part, urban Olvanans have enough to eat, can receive an education, find work, and are not just working to survive.

Media Engagement/Perception

Baby-boomers still turn to the numerous newspapers available for their news. While some Gen-Xers read papers, more are likely to obtain their news from the radio or television. The younger the person, the more likely they are have moved to obtaining their news from their cell phone. For the most part, baby-boomers and Gen Xers still believe the news the government provides them, despite any information to the contrary that comes from sources external to the country.

Presence/Activity in Cyberspace

Baby-boomers reluctantly have joined the information age due to the need to use their cell phone to conduct business with the government, purchase tickets to ride the bus, or purchase many goods. They are the people, however, visiting the local markets to buy goods with cash instead of using their phone. Gen Xers are only slightly more receptive to using the digital technology in their life, but more are coming round every day. Both groups, however, are now more accepting of social media every day as a means to communicate with family that may be far away.

Cohort: Generational - Millennials and Zoomers (Generation Z)

Millennials are those born between about 1981 and 1996 and Zoomers are born between about 1997 and 2012. Many of those in the latter group are young and still in school. Both groups have come of age when Olvana has been a major player on the world stage and has seen an economic and political growth of their country. Gen Z members do not see themselves as much in the struggle of communism as the “us against them” and Olvana being ostracized by much of the world. Gen Z are worldlier than the previous generations with many of them going abroad for college. They may have even gone with their parents on a vacation or two out of the country while a child and see the world in a completely different light than their parents and grandparents.

Biases

Gen Z members are willing to get their information from different sources, come of age with access to computers, the Internet (even if it is not totally open to all websites), and cell phones. Few Gen Z members read the newspaper, but instead get the news from websites and their phone. Older members may still watch the television or listen to the radio for the news. For the most part, Gen Z members are more skeptical of the government than older generations. But they understand that speaking out against the Olvanan government is still a problem and could get them in trouble.

Perceived Antagonist Cohorts

Many Gen Z members see their parents and grandparents (Baby-boomers and Gen X) as not willing to embrace their parents. Gen Z wants to embrace the future and all it has to offer instead of remaining mired in the past worried about what might happen next.

Media Engagement/Perception

Most Gen Z members are skeptical of the government news outlets and instead prefer to get their news from non-governmental sources. Many refused to read the newspapers, watch television, or listen to the radio for their news as they want their news when they want it. Gen Z members readily embrace the new methods of media and happily go from one social network to another until they find the one that most meets their need.

Presence/Activity in Cyberspace

Gen Z members are constantly on their phone checking in with friends, watching videos, and even sometimes doing school work. Older Gen Z members might even do actual work on their phones. Gen Z is not scared of anything new in the cyber world and happily try the next big thing that comes out whether it is Tik Tok or whatever.

Cohort: Socio-Economic - Urban Poor

Despite the economic advancement of Olvana, there is still a substantial number of urban poor. These are people who work in factories for pennies a day making running shoes and other items for consumption by the West. Many of these are children being exploited as their fingers are more nimble and can produce more per hour.

Biases

The urban poor often live congregated in a single part of the city away from those that have benefited from the economic growth of Olvana. The children born into poverty do not receive the education given to others and are forced to go to work at an early age. This only continues the cycle of poverty for the family. The urban poor that do not work in the factories normally end up doing freelance manual labor making just enough to stay alive.

Perceived Antagonist Cohorts

Many of the urban poor feel that others have become rich at their expense and the economic growth has not affected them in a positive manner. The urban poor feel that the government has not done enough to help them and only gives lip service to the communist ideas that everyone is equal.

Media Engagement/Perception

Most of the urban poor care little about media engagement because of a lack of time. Some may read a discarded newspaper or catch a news program on a public television. For the most part, the urban poor just do not care.

Presence/Activity in Cyberspace

While some urban poor may have a cell phone, most do not and few go to the library to reach the Internet. With the Olvanan government trying to make the country go almost completely electronic for both public and private business, the urban poor will continue to become more marginalize. In the near future, the Olvanan government will have to figure out how the urban poor can meet its electronic mandates without access to a cell phone.

Cohort: Rural Residents

These are the Olvanans that do not live in the cities and therefore are not part of the three cohorts discussed previously. Most of them are in the agricultural business or work in fields associated with the agricultural business. A few may operate other businesses, but they all can trace their need back to agriculture in some way.

Biases

Many urban people look down on the rural people as being unsophisticated hicks. Rural residents look upon the urbanites with disdain because they do not understand where the food in their markets and grocery stores come from.

Perceived Antagonist Cohorts

The rural residents believe the urbanites being antagonistic to them no matter what cohort. The antagonism is urban versus rural more than generational or economic. Even though the rural people view city life in a negative light, it still has not prevented a slow continuous urbanization of Olvana over the last decade.

Media Engagement/Perception

Rural people will often get their news from newspapers, often passed around to each other because many farmers consider it a waste of money to purchase a daily paper. The rural people will listen to the news on a radio or watch television if they can access it. While there may be some cell phone usage, it is not pervasive like in the urban areas.

Presence/Activity in Cyberspace

Rural Olvanans are less likely to be on the Internet, participate on social media platforms, or even use a computer on a regular basis. Some of the richer rural residents, may possess a computer in order to conduct business. The computer may or may not be connected to the Internet. The Olvanan government is erecting 5G towers all over the country in order to give at least 90% of the population access to the Internet. As these towers are placed in rural areas, the number of cell phone users will only increase.

Cohort: Ethnic-Minority Populations

Ethnic-minority populations within Olvana have long endured persecution at the hands of whichever incarnation of ethnic Olvana government is in power. These groups are extremely diverse, and can be found in almost all parts of the country, however they are most heavily concentrated in the southwestern and northwestern parts of Olvana. In many cases, ethnic-identity shapes how an individual engages with the world around them, and how they perceive the actions of the Olvanan government. These populations are likely to have experienced efforts by the communist party to assimilate with Olvan culture.  While some populations in northwestern Olvana are still experiencing attempts by the government to erase their cultural heritage, Olvana has begun taking a much softer approach in other regions. Olvana now attempts to shape minority populations by overwhelming them with ethnic Olvan migrants. Rather than reeducating these populations, the government is attempting to overtake the public sphere, leaving no room for non-Olvan traditions that might otherwise challenge the government’s authority. The ethnic-minority populations within Olvana are painfully aware of this practice, but unable to stop it.

Biases

The biases associated with minority groups in Olvana are the same as the biases of minority groups found world-wide. Each individual group will have its own tendencies, though there are some similarities that seem to be present in all groups. Identify biases play a large role in how minority populations engage with information, with familiar often being trusted over unfamiliar sources. Minority groups in Olvana are more likely to identify as a collective whole (i.e. an overarching identity as Olvanan minorities) when they believe the government is infringing upon their rights or their culture.  That said, they are equally as unlikely to perceive positive actions by the government toward one group as being to the benefit of all minority groups.  For example, if the government were to take an action repressing the ethnic Miao peoples, an ethnic Muong  from southwestern Olvana is likely sympathize with them and identify with their shared suffering. But, if the government were to take a positive action toward the Miao, it is unlikely to be looked upon more positively by the Muong peoples. Negative events are much more likely to have an impact across cultural boundaries among Olvana’s minority populations than positive events.

Perceived Antagonist Cohorts

The majority Olvan ethnicity is often perceived as the primary antagonist facing minority populations, and for obvious reasons. That said, minority populations may also view other minority populations that are in close proximity as also being antagonistic depending on the specific circumstances, particularly if it is believed that one minority population is benefiting over another or is being favored by the Olvanan government.

Media Engagement/Perception

Minority groups have had a distrust of government sources engrained into their psyche as the result of decades of repression in the latter portion of the 20^th Century. They ultimately have to trust some of what the government says, because the government controls almost all information outlets, however they are much more likely than the average Olvanan to seek out and engage with alternative media sources, particularly if other members of their community are doing the same.

Presence/Activity in Cyberspace

For the most part, ethnic minorities in Olvana are just as present/active in cyberspace as the rest of the population.  That said, there are a number of groups that are less likely to have a presence in cyberspace as a result of either cultural preferences or relative isolation and lack of access.  These groups are typically found in geographically extreme areas, either on the desert steppe, in the mountains, or in dense jungles.

Information Suppression

Government Censorship

Olvana’s control of public communications is heavy-handed. All significant public media is government-controlled; messages are crafted to portray the Olvanan Communist Party (OCP) in a positive way. Olvana possesses a diversified communications system that links all parts of the country by the different types of telecommunication systems. Olvana has a substantial national telecommunications infrastructure. Fiber optic cables cover most of the nation, and plans exist to improve and expand to areas not yet incorporated. Television continues to be the primary source of information within Olvana, with internet and mobile services growing in popularity due in part to their ability to evade censorship. 

The government effectively controls all major media outlets to suppress dissent, with the notable exception of the internet. Although Olvana claims its citizens enjoy freedom of speech, regulations allow the Central Propaganda Agency (CPA) to suppress news that is deemed a threat to the security of the country. This CPA reviews information and deems what is acceptable and unacceptable for publication. The Olvanan government will often use strict media controls, such as monitoring systems and firewalls, blocking publications and/or websites, as well as jailing journalists, bloggers, and activists who write about the government in a bad way. As internet access via mobile devices continues to climb, censorship efforts will be unable to completely stop the circulation of unfavorable news by users who continually circumvent the technologies in place to stop it.

Public (Popular Censorship)

All media (print, radio, and television) conduct self-censorship when it comes to negative stories about the Olvanan government, its leaders, its policies, or anything else that may appear to place the government in a bad light. If these media outlets did not practice this self-censorship, then the Olvana government would put the news outlet out of business. The media in Olvana sees what happens to foreign journalists that report negatively on the country—their media credits (individual and often the organization) are revoked or the offender is deported from the country.

Non-Government Entity Censorship

The non-government entity that influences censorship is the OCP. Since the OCP controls the government, it is actually works in concert with the government to censor negative information about the country than an actual non-governmental entity.

Cyberspace

Strengths

Olvana is a major participation in cyberspace and is working to ensure that the entire company will soon possess access to the 5G network. Olvana is always making new or pirating apps (applications) that can be installed and ran on a computer, tablet, smartphone, or other electronic device. Olvana is also a major player hacking into the computer systems of other countries, including the US, to steal government secrets or business trade information.

Vulnerabilities

The major vulnerability is the more a society uses electronic medium, the more susceptibility they are for intrusion by others. Olvana spends an extremely amount of time and resources to defend against cyberspace intruders. Olvana finds students at an early age that are interested in this kind of work, sends them to specialized schools including university and post-graduate programs, and then they work for the government trying to prevent other entities from breaking into their networks.

OE Specific Challenges

The toughest challenges associated with Olvana’s information environment may be related to penetrating its highly regulated system of information networks.  Olvana also presents a challenge within the region, as it is able to use diverse methods to probe and test the strengths and weaknesses of the network defenses of other countries. The Olvanan government will often contract with cyber criminals and hackers in order to not only help them predict and defend against intrusions, but to conduct offensive cyberspace operations as well. The sheer number of people working in this arena often means that their enemies must spend even more time and resources trying to stop them.