China forces Internet companies to end online anonymity

Chinese authorities, known for their strict censorship is at it once again. According to the new rules by China's main internet server, netizens who want to post online comments have to register with their real names. They can still use pseudonyms, but the names have to be tied to their real identities.

The Chinese regime has always ordered people to register with their real names and has made attempts to enforce this on various levels over the past three years. This time, however, the difference is that internet companies and service providers are being made responsible for ensuring users stay fully identified. Companies and service providers are also required to report any illegal content they see on any platform to the government.

Despite China's attempt to control the Internet, users in China have found a way to trick the authorities and hide in a degree of anonymity in Weibo (Chinese micro-blogging site similar to Twitter). And the use of VPN's to bypass China’s firewall has been prevalent there and in other totalitarian countries like Iran and Russia. But even the VPNs are beginning to fall under the relentless pressure of Chinese censorship. Last month, Apple removed several VPN apps from the iTunes store in China, citing the local law.

The new laws come into effect at the start of October.