Tencent Weibo to Join in Real-Name Requirement for Microblogs

Take off your shirt before you say that! -via China Digital Times

After the announcement that Beijing authorities had mandated real-name registration for Beijing microblogs, there was some speculation that Guangzhou-based Tencent might receive a flood of users defecting from Beijing-based Sina Weibo, as Beijing municipal regulations apply only to companies based in Beijing and thus didn’t apply to Tencent. Unfortunately for those who prefer anonymity, though, Tencent and six other Guangzhou and Shenzhou-based microblogging services have now also implemented real-name registration systems.

According to the Southern Metropolis Daily, the requirement goes into effect today, and is a response to orders from the Communist Party this fall to implement better controls over microblog content. Since Sina Weibo has already implemented real-name requirements, this means that China’s largest microblogging services — with a combined user base of over 500 million people — are now both real name only.

The regulations are being touted in the media as a way to combat fake accounts and promote rational debate, but there is concern among users and observers that the regulations will also be used to facilitate prosecution of people who express opinions critical of the government or spread information about events the government doesn’t want publicized. This section of the Beijing regulations, especially, has given cause for concern (translated by William Farris, via Digicha):

Article 10. No organization or individual shall make unlawful use of a micro-blog to reproduce, publish, or transmit information with the following contents:

(i) violating the basic principles of the Constitution;

(ii) jeopardizing national security, leaking state secrets, subverting the government, undermining national unity;

(iii) harming national honor and interests;

(iv) inciting ethnic hatred or ethnic discrimination, undermining national unity;

(v) violating the state religion policies or propagating cults and feudal superstitions;

(vi) spreading rumors, disturbing social order, or undermining social stability;

(vii) spreading obscenity, pornography, gambling, violence, terror or instigating crimes;

(viii) insulting or libeling other or infringing on other people’s legitimate rights and interests;