Chinese Government Considering Mandatory Real-Name Registration for Internet Users

China, already tough on Internet freedom with its astringent censorship, is looking to take a crack at Chinese citizens' Internet anonymity.

The Chinese government may be taking a page from Sina Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, which has already forced real-name registration on its users.

According to the government-owned press agency Xinhua, the National People's Congress (NPC), China's unicameral legislature, is currently drafting a law that will force Chinese citizens to register their real names with Internet service providers.

The policy will not violate users' privacy, but actually protect it, claims Li Fei, deputy director of the Commission for Legislative Affairs of the NPC. "Such identity management could be conducted backstage, allowing users to use different names when publicizing information," states Li.

The NPC has set up the draft under the guise of protecting Chinese citizens from online fraud. However, the real concern here is for political activists or individuals who would benefit from such online anonymity. After all, the so-called anonymity that the Chinese government claims individuals would continue to enjoy holds little weight when it has access to information about every individual's online activities through ISPs.

  • mouse24
    Jeez, I would hate to have to grow up in china.
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  • That is just plain baloney. If the law really becomes in effect, it will enhance corruption between Chinese government officials and fraudsters, while punishing whistle blowers and law abiding Chinese citizens.
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  • I'd sure love to always eat the food, and bang the broads though. Yum yum.
    Reply
  • tomfreak
    shouldnt be a problem if they can 101% guaranty that the name/privacy isnt gonna get leak out for life time. which is nearly impossible lolz
    Reply
  • kinggremlin
    How are the Chinese getting internet access now without their ISP knowing their real name? I know Time Warner Cable has my real name. That's how I pay my bill. If I told them my name was Santa Claus or HughGRection69 I don't think I would be able to get an account with them. So what exactly is the issue here?
    Reply
  • shotgunz
    They will just end up with... Chan, Chan1, Chan2, Chan3... Chan232763323

    Lee, Lee1, Lee2, Lee3,.... Lee82873723
    Reply
  • xkm1948
    kinggremlinHow are the Chinese getting internet access now without their ISP knowing their real name? I know Time Warner Cable has my real name. That's how I pay my bill. If I told them my name was Santa Claus or HughGRection69 I don't think I would be able to get an account with them. So what exactly is the issue here?
    Well, it is not like that. Chinese government simply want its citizens to use REAL NAME on all online forums/social websites/news comments sections. Why? Because the communists government is under heavy pressure recently when people exposing how their "western hating communist officials" are actually sending all their relatives and money abroad. They wanna hide their ugly secret, and the best way is to use real name checking. This way they can track down everyone single one who opposes the authority, even if it is just some random ranting on news comments section.

    You can rant on and on about how Obama is a disaster to the US without worrying about FBI knocking on your front door. You don't have to worry about being "vaporized" for just some negative comments.
    With this new law passed and the system deployed. If one post anything negative about the communist leaders, the Chinese Special Agents will locate and jail him/her without any form of hearing.

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  • ronch79
    It's easy to take potshots at China for being a communist country, unfortunately, 'democratic' nations' policies aren't really far from this sort of thing.
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  • sonofliberty08
    kinggremlinHow are the Chinese getting internet access now without their ISP knowing their real name? I know Time Warner Cable has my real name. That's how I pay my bill. If I told them my name was Santa Claus or HughGRection69 I don't think I would be able to get an account with them. So what exactly is the issue here?the US government, CIA & FIB already know your real name and watch your back :p
    u don't even have to register, they can get into your back door anytime, anywhere
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  • sonofliberty08
    ronch79It's easy to take potshots at China for being a communist country, unfortunately, 'democratic' nations' policies aren't really far from this sort of thing.for communist country, this kind of policy are on the water,
    for "democratic nations", this kind of policy are under water......
    Reply