China Tightens Internet Use Rules
Users of blogs and internet chat rooms will be required to register their names with operators and promise in writing to avoid challenging the communist political system.
The announcement follows what technology companies say are official efforts in recent weeks to block virtual private networks that are used to circumvent China’s extensive Internet filters.
China has the world’s biggest population of internet users with 649m people online but increasing censorship has limited the popularity of social media.
Beijing has required Internet companies since 2012 to obtain real names of some users. But compliance was uneven and the rules failed to specify what services were covered.
The latest announcement extends that “real name” registration requirement to blogs, microblog services such as the popular Sina Weibo and website comment sections. Such settings offer many Chinese their only opportunity to express themselves in public in a society in which all media are controlled by the ruling Communist Party.