China to Require Real Names for Online Interactive Processes

Chinese Internet regulator Wang Chen aims to radically reduce options for anonymity available to Web users in China, calling for a “real name registration system” that would make it impossible for people to post comments or access information anonymously. The fact that a full transcript of his comments, originally made in April, remained unavailable until unearthed this week by Human Rights In China, signals to some that Beijing is well aware of the unpopularity of its push for tighter regulation–a lesson learned well recently by World of Warcraft creator Blizzard, which abandoned its own real name system last week.