China to end pseudonymous registrations for internet services

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has announced new regulations forcing people within the country's borders to use their real names when registering accounts for internet-based services such blogs, chat services, and social networks, Reuters reported.

Under the new rules, internet service users could continue to employ personalised account names as long as they registered accounts with their real names.

It would also be illegal to impersonate other people, organisations, and government bodies.

China's state press agency Xinhua said in a report that the CAC's mobile internet bureau head Xu Feng said that a number of accounts used names similar to government departments of official media to "spread rumours".

The 10-clause regulation, published 4 February also ruled that avatars and account handles should "not include information that violated the Constitution or the country's laws; subverts state power; undermines national security and sovereignty; or is deemed rumor mongering".

"Malicious content includes the promotion of cults and the dissemination of pornography or extremism; and insulting or defamation of others, among others, according to the regulation," the report said.

The new regulations become effective from 1 March with the CAC set to monitor all avatars and account handles registered on blogs, microblogs, instant messaging services, online forums, comment sections, and other services.

China had repeatedly made attempts to bring in regulations requiring internet users to register for online accounts using their real names, although with limited success.

The ban on impersonations included accounts that purported to be government bodies, such as China's anti-corruption agency and news organisations like the People's Daily state newspaper, as well also accounts that impersonated foreign leaders, such as US president Barack Obama and Russia's Vladimir Putin, according to the website of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).

The CAC said the new regulations formed parts of efforts to impose real-name registration requirements on internet users and halt the spread of rumours online.

According to commentators, the measure pointed to the country's tightening control of the internet which had accelerated since president Xi Jinping took power in early 2013.

Internet companies would be responsible for enforcing the rules, according to the CAC. These would include Tencent Holdings Ltd, which runs hugely popular instant messaging services WeChat and QQ, and microblog operator Weibo Corp, as also several online forums.