China to extend regulation requiring real name registration on Internet blogs

Beijing, Jan 19(ANI): China is planning to compel more Internet bloggers to register with their real names, by extending pilot regulation beyond five cities.

"On the one hand, microblogs can reflect the social situation and public opinion, and broadcast a positive public voice. At the same time, microblogs... can make it easy to disseminate a few irrational voices, negative public opinion and harmful information," State Council Information Office's Minister- in- charge Wang Chen said.

According to analysts, the Chinese authorities have become increasingly concerned about the speed with which the Weibo can spread information, The BBC reports.

Critics said the move represents a further step to crush dissent and make it easier for the government to trace the defaulters.

Beijing had earlier introduced new regulations requiring Weibo users in Beijing and Shenzhen to register with their real names before posting comments online.

It has already banned Twitter and Facebook and strictly monitors the Internet content, but the short-message services similar to Twitter -microblogs or Weibo have become hugely popular.

According to a think-tank report, the number of microblog users quadrupled in 2011, with nearly half of China's 513 million Internet users accessing weibo sites. (ANI)