As microblogs (the generic name for Twitter services) have exploded in China there has been an ongoing debate whether users should have to supply their real names when registering their accounts. In other words, should users be forced to identify themselves when they broadcast their views on a variety of topics from the banal to the most controversial issues of government and business. Finally the Chinese regulatory authorities have decided that the freedom to hide your commentary behind a screen name will no longer be allowed.
According to Xhinhuanet.com, the official word came from government agencies in Beijing on Friday that new rules will require microblog users to provide their true identities when registering their accounts. The new real name registration will only be required to publish and share posts, not to read them. The rules were issued jointly by Beijing’s public security bureau, communication administration and Internet information office as well as the Beijing government’s press office.
While many may view this as an attempt to discourage speech critical of the government the regulatory officials claim that it is a necessary step in order to “help microblogging service providers enhance trustworthiness, establish name brands and improve the quality of their services.”
In addition to the real name registration the new rules also explicitly ban individuals and organizations from posting and duplicating illegal content, including information that leaks state secrets, damages national security and interests, and instigates ethnic resentment, discrimination or illegal rallies that disrupt social order.
These new rules were passed in Beijing largely because it is China’s ‘Internet capital,’ and it is where the majority of microblogging services are based. Nearly 600 million accounts are registered with Beijing’s seven leading microblogging service providers.
The reaction to the new rules are mixed. While many agree that microblogging services have become a tremendous source of rumors and false accusations, it is also a powerful tool for voicing complaints against big businesses as well as the government. There is legitimate fear that the greater motivation for instituting these new rules is to limit free speech then it is to eliminate false rumors.
Microblog service providers have already come out in favor of the new regulations despite the fact that they are now obligated to update their services to ensure that all accounts have a real name associated with them. This will require technical cooperation with the government to properly validate a user’s identity.
Despite the extra burden on their services the representatives from these companies claim that the abundance of false information and scams on their services makes it harder for them to grow into reliable and trust-worthy information providers.
Prior to the new regulations leading microblogging services such as SINA Corporation (NASDAQ: SINA) and Sohu.com Inc. (NASDAQ: SOHU) have taken it upon themselves to establish guidelines and special departments to try to identify and suspend accounts that were spreading false or illicit information.
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