China requires Internet users to register names

ap ^ | – 1 hr 5 mins ago | JOE McDONALD | Associated Press

[BenLurkin]

— China's government tightened Internet controls Friday with approval of a law that requires users to register their names after a flood of online complaints about official abuses rattled Communist Party leaders.

Authorities say the law will strengthen protections for personal information. But it also is likely to curtail the Internet's status as a forum to complain about the government or publicize corruption.

"Their intention is very clear: It is to take back that bit of space for public opinion, that freedom of speech hundreds of millions of Chinese Internet users have strived for," said Murong Xuecun, a prominent Chinese writer.

The rules approved by China's national legislature highlight the chronic tension between the ruling Communist Party's desire to reap technology's benefits and its insistence on controlling information.

Beijing encourages Web use for business and education but tries to block material deemed subversive or obscene. It has steadily stepped up censorship, especially after social media played a role in protests that brought down governments in Egypt and Tunisia.

The latest measure requires users to provide their real names and other identifying information when they register with access providers or post information publicly.

"This is needed for the healthy development of the Internet," said Li Fei, deputy director of the legislature's Legal Work Committee, at a news conference.

Li rejected complaints that the public will be deprived of a forum that has been used to expose misconduct.

"The country's constitution protects citizens' rights in supervising and criticizing the state and government officials' behavior," Li said.

[BenLurkin]

Never forget......Red China is admired by many in the Hussein admininstration.

[Lazamataz]

The country's constitution protects citizens' rights in supervising and criticizing the state and government officials' behavior," Li said.

Riiiiiight.

[stuartcr]

Could you please supply us with their names. I’d like to send them an e-mail. thanks

[BenLurkin]

This might be one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi1zg2NOCn8

[MissMagnolia]

Coming to Amerika ....

[BenLurkin]

And then there is this:

White House Christmas Decor Featuring Mao Zedong Comes Under Fire
Published December 24, 2009 FoxNews.com

Mao Zedong is in the White House, hanging out with a drag queen. Not far away, Barack Obama is making a play to have his head etched in stone.

Critics of President Obama are setting their sights this week on the official White House Christmas tree, which features controversial ornaments including an orb depicting the late Chinese dictator, another that shows drag queen Hedda Lettuce, and yet another that shows a picture of Mount Rushmore -- with Obama's head pasted to the side of Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Roosevelt's.

God rest ye, merry gentlemen.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/23/white-house-christmas-decor-featuring-mao-zedong-comes/#ixzz2GMSy4FVR

[No!]

This was the main reason I became a fan of Maxthon. they had the proxy feints to get people out into the REAL internet and changed China forever.

12 years later they have Maxthon 4 and even more work arounds.

This is the typical bureaucrats just now trying to catch up.

Oh, some here wish they could do this but how different are we really? Our press may not be OFFICIALLY state run, but it is... none the less.

AS RR said. The natural state of human being is to be free and freedom does not get switched off like a lamp.

[Buckeye McFrog]

If I read you correctly, ChiCom bureaucrats are about to start spending an awful lot of time looking for thousands of guys named Harry Wang and Yu Suk Pu...

[billorites]

Dover here!

Mr. Ben Dover.

[Foolsgold]

and the United States senate is trying to pass a warrantless wiretap bill as we speak. update: Senate Approves Warrantless Electronic Spy Powers can’t pass a budget or stop the leap off the fiscal cliff, but spying on the public, you got it.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

We must outlaw assault internets. For the children.

[SeminoleCounty]

Gee....All the Free Trader Communists told us that Free Trade would open up Communist China...

Seems like Free Trade just makes the Commie Chinese more Communist. And more belligerent

[No!]

Chinese phonebook...