Devils advocate here: by stripping away privacy controls and monitoring every bit and byte on the Chinese internet, the government would also have an easier tim

Devils advocate here: by stripping away privacy controls and monitoring every bit and byte on the Chinese internet, the government would also have an easier time identifying and tracking down blackmailers, stalkers, etc. As for the likelihood that these un-safeguarded powers will be abused for personal or political gain, well, like you said, technical/legal debt.