China to ban online pseudonyms and parody accounts, as it forces internet users to give their real names
Experts say the ruling will crack down on internet activism
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Chinese internet users will be forced to use their real names on social media and blogs, in line with a new rule from Chinese internet regulators.
It comes on the back of recent news that the “great firewall”, China’s internet blocks, climbed higher than ever last week with the blocking of the virtual private networks that many use to get to banned sites.
Since 2012, Beijing has required that internet companies keep the real names of some users. But the country has now rolled the rule out to blogs, social media and website comment sections, and will be applied more comprehensively.
Many such websites give internet users their only way of expressing themselves freely, given the strong crackdown on discussion on the internet and elsewhere.
The rules also require internet services for the first time to have users sign a contract that includes a pledge to refrain from "illegal and unhealthy" activity.
The Cyberspace Administration of China, the group that runs the “great firewall”, said that the rules had been instituted to stop “username chaos”. Using parody accounts of famous people such as Putin and Obama promoted “vulgar culture” and helped people commit fraud, the group said in a statement.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments