DailyTech - Quick Note: China Wants Real Names When Registering for Internet Access

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Internet Quick Note: China Wants Real Names When Registering for Internet Access
Tiffany Kaiser - December 26, 2012 10:23 PM

16 comment(s) - last by PrinceGaz.. on Dec 28 at 3:29 PM

(Source: chinachannel.fffff.at)

This will further prevent citizens from voicing opinions or discussing rumors/news

China keeps a close eye on its citizens' actions, but those reigns will be pulled even tighter with an Internet access registration method the country plans to impose.

According to NBC News, China is looking to force citizens to provide their real names when signing up with Internet providers. This means that any Chinese resident would have to show their government-issued identity cards when entering into contracts for both fixed line and mobile Internet access.

What's odd is that Chinese citizens already have to show their IDs when signing contracts with Internet providers, so the forthcoming change to that method is unclear.

Chinese newspaper People's Daily said a new Internet access registration method would make for an Internet that is "healthier, more cultured and safer."

As of right now, Chinese citizens are not allowed to access certain websites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube because it allows public debate over the country's issues. Other websites are heavily censored for the same reason.

If the Internet access registration method becomes stricter and allows the government to know who's saying what, citizens will have no way of voicing opinions or discussing rumors/news.

Source: NBC News

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RE: Is it different elsewhere?

By Tupoun on 12/27/2012 9:24:58 AM , Rating: 2

Yeah ... the same here (Czech Republic/Germany and as far as I know Austria). You have to provide your ID while signing the contract with your ISP. I can't imagine to come and say: "Hello, Fredie Krueger here ... sorry no ID, I want internet connection for this house".

I used to live in UK, where it is so easily either to steal or create fake identity there (I always wondered how easy is that - companies including banks rely on some sheet of paper called electric bill or whatsoever and they even consider this to be a reliant proof of your existence, no photo nothing, just a good printer or "steal" from somebody's trash bin). Unimaginable here ... companies mostly demand two ID's, your identity card plus driving licence or passport or certificate of birth.

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