Cities follow Beijing over real name registration on Internet
Source: Xinhua |
December 23, 2011, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
MORE Chinese cities yesterday followed Beijing's lead and required microblog operators to register users with real names, a move designed to purge online rumors and enhance credibility.
Seven major websites in Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong Province are now requiring new users to register with their real names.
Among them is Shenzhen-based Tencent Holdings, which operates the QQ instant messaging service.
A Tencent executive said the new regulations would purify the Internet environment and help the development of microblogging.
The new rules are made "in accordance with Chinese laws" in a bid to "foster healthy Internet culture" and "strengthen management and guide social networking services and instant-messaging tools," according to a statement by Guangdong's publicity department.
Experts say fake and fraudulent information is often seen spreading through microblogs, which are gaining popularity among users.
China currently has about 300 million microbloggers, according to Liu Zhengrong, deputy director with the Internet department of the State Council Information Office.
However, there is an obvious gap between the actual number of microblog subscribers and the number of microblog ID names.
Some subscribers have several IDs.
Wu Danhong, an associate professor at China University of Political Science and Law, said that microblogs were glutted with "dummy" IDs that could be traded for a price.
Wu initiated a "rumor-curbing league" in May this year, only to find that almost all rumors were from IDs that were not verified.
This left room for rumors or fraudulent information to spread on the Internet as users of the "dummy" IDs don't have to take responsibility for their words, Wu said.
Real-name registration is considered part of the country's efforts to strengthen the management of new media, including the Internet, officials said.
"The implementation of real-name registration will create an information-filtering mechanism that reminds microbloggers of self-discipline in writing or duplicating postings," said Yin Hong, a journalism professor at Tsinghua University. "The move will enhance the authenticity and reliability of Internet information to some extent."
But he added: "To require real-name registration doesn't necessarily mean that each word released by microbloggers must be real and accurate."
"Internet users need to enjoy the freedom of speech, which must be assured," Yin said.
Seven major websites in Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong Province are now requiring new users to register with their real names.
Among them is Shenzhen-based Tencent Holdings, which operates the QQ instant messaging service.
A Tencent executive said the new regulations would purify the Internet environment and help the development of microblogging.
The new rules are made "in accordance with Chinese laws" in a bid to "foster healthy Internet culture" and "strengthen management and guide social networking services and instant-messaging tools," according to a statement by Guangdong's publicity department.
Experts say fake and fraudulent information is often seen spreading through microblogs, which are gaining popularity among users.
China currently has about 300 million microbloggers, according to Liu Zhengrong, deputy director with the Internet department of the State Council Information Office.
However, there is an obvious gap between the actual number of microblog subscribers and the number of microblog ID names.
Some subscribers have several IDs.
Wu Danhong, an associate professor at China University of Political Science and Law, said that microblogs were glutted with "dummy" IDs that could be traded for a price.
Wu initiated a "rumor-curbing league" in May this year, only to find that almost all rumors were from IDs that were not verified.
This left room for rumors or fraudulent information to spread on the Internet as users of the "dummy" IDs don't have to take responsibility for their words, Wu said.
Real-name registration is considered part of the country's efforts to strengthen the management of new media, including the Internet, officials said.
"The implementation of real-name registration will create an information-filtering mechanism that reminds microbloggers of self-discipline in writing or duplicating postings," said Yin Hong, a journalism professor at Tsinghua University. "The move will enhance the authenticity and reliability of Internet information to some extent."
But he added: "To require real-name registration doesn't necessarily mean that each word released by microbloggers must be real and accurate."
"Internet users need to enjoy the freedom of speech, which must be assured," Yin said.
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