China's Internet Users Debate Shenzhen Public Security Bureau's "Real Name Internet" Requirement

Internet companies in Shenzhen should have finished "purifying and rectifying" all Internet chatrooms, bulletin board systems, news groups, and instant messaging systems ("forums") that they operate by August 25, under the terms of a Notice issued by the Shenzhen public security office on July 5. The Notice requires companies to shut down forums suspected of having "unauthorized mass organization activities." It also requires the closure of forums having a name, summary, or postings containing illegal information or information "not in harmony with the requirements of establishing a civilization with a socialist spirit." Forums that have failed to carry out "real name" registration should also be shuttered, according to the Notice. The Shenzhen public security bureau said these measures are necessary to address the problem of people using forums to conduct activities related to "illegal associations, illegal connections, and obscenity." The Notice states that September will be a month of "heightened inspection" during which users with foreign IP addresses will be prohibited from establishing forums.

Internet users throughout China felt the impact of the Notice, because Shenzhen is the headquarters of the Tencent company, which owns the popular "QQ" instant messaging software. On July 20, Tencent, which gained notoriety in 2004 for including a list of banned words such as "freedom" and "democracy" in its software to filter messages, sent a notice to founders and administrators of forums on its system telling them that they were required to re-register their forums and provide personal information, including their national ID card number.

Chinese authorities generally attempt to either censor Internet expression with which they disagree or "steer" it in directions they wish it to go. Since the Notice was issued, authorities have allowed Internet users to openly debate the relative merits of the real name system. For example, in mid-August the People's Daily Web site established a page providing links to almost a dozen articles expressing both opposition to and support for a real name registration system. The CECC has translated excerpts from some of these and other articles on the real name system, which can be viewed below.

Is it Possible to Implement a "Real Name System" for Online Chatting?, Xinhua Web site (2005-08-27 )

"Yu Guofu [legal consultant to the Internet Society of China] believes that . . . it is unlikely that China will quickly implement a 'real name system' in 'one fell swoop . . .'"

Don't Sing Out of Tune With the Internet Real Name Registration System, People's Daily Web site (2005-08-16)

"The real-name Internet's greatest significance is nothing more than being responsible for one's own speech. You have freedom of speech, but you must also be responsible for your own speech, and surely you cannot say that you have freedom of speech and can therefore talk nonsense?"

"Real Name Internet System" Trial Implemented: QQ Throws a Stone and Causes Many Splashes, Xinhua Web site (2005-07-28)

"The Shenzhen Public Security's demand that the Tencent Company's QQ groups founders and administrators implement a real name system . . . is a stone that has caused thousands of layers of waves, and given rise to a strong reaction throughout society."

Real Name System Work Flow and Discussions with Public Security Agencies Tencent QQ Causes Conflict, Xinhua Web site (2005-07-27)

"Illegal content can be resolved through technical means and human monitoring measures. The Internet real name system will restrict the enthusiasm and method of expression online of some Internet users."

"Implementing an Internet real name system can reduce the amount harmful information and insults, invective, and personal attacks that get disseminated online."

Is Real Name Registration a Trend or a Potent Drug?, People's Daily Web site (2005-08-16)

"The Internet real name system looks beautiful, but in fact it is nothing more than the 'fruit of the poisonous tree.'"

Internet Real Name Registration System: A Number of Reasons to Use it and Not to Use It, People's Daily Web site (2005-08-16)

"At one end of the spectrum an Internet real name system can raise the moral level of the Internet, and at the other extreme can reduce the the various illegal actions committed using the Internet."

"At the present time [a real name system] is contrary to the original intention and spirit of the Internet, because the Internet was originally a virtual world, and to expect real people to appear under their actual identities will not allow the Internet to fully realize its utility."

Slow Down on the Internet Real Name Registration System, People's Daily Web site (2005-08-16)

"I believe that, if it is necessary to implement an Internet real name system, then it should be divided into different domains . . . ."

Real Name Angst, Shanghai Star, reprinted on the China Daily Web site (2005-08-14)

"Yu Hai, a sociologist from Fudan University, said he thought the real-name system was meaningless because it would do nothing to prevent cyber crimes."

"Zhao Shilin, author of 'On Internet Communication' [said] the real-name system would jeopardize the public's most valuable channel for expressing their ideas."