December 7, 2009
At China’s Seventh International Internet Culture Exposition, an official from the Ministry of Culture spoke on the need to further regulate China’s online public space.
Among the remarks made by Tuo Zuhai, vice-director of the ministry’s Cultural Market Department, was a mention of a “real name system” (实名制) for the Internet. The idea that netizens should be required to register with the government before using the Internet has been hotly debated in the past, which may explain why today’s Daily Sunshine chose to make the report its top headline.
The article inside was reprinted from Beijing Times:
Tuo Zuhai said that the Internet had become an important basis for social development and had given rise to new cultural industries and modes of transmission. And because activities on the Internet were part of life in human society, a new model for public order in online society needs to be devised based on technology and formed through legal channels: “Legislation should be accelerated to carry this out.”
…
Tuo revealed that ministries are looking into an online real name system, as well as issues involving virtual property, a rating system for online content, online IPR protection, and cures for Internet addiction.
- Daily Sunshine (Chinese): MoC: Online identity system under investigation
- China Daily: China to enact online community network