Business Standard

Monday, December 23, 2024 | 04:11 PM ISTEN Hindi

Notification Icon
userprofile IconSearch

China tightens internet controls

Image

Reuters Beijing

China unveiled tighter internet controls on Friday, legalising the deletion of posts or pages which are deemed to contain “illegal” information and requiring service providers to hand over such information to the authorities for punishment.

The rules signal the new leadership headed by Communist Party chief Xi Jinping will continue muzzling the often scathing, raucous online chatter in a country where the internet offers a rare opportunity for debate.

The new regulations, announced by the official Xinhua news agency, also require internet users to register with their real names when signing up with network providers, though, in reality, this already happens.

 

Chinese authorities and Internet companies such as Sina Corp have long since closely monitored and censored what people say online, but the government has now put measures such as deleting posts into law.

“Service providers are required to instantly stop the transmission of illegal information once it is spotted and take relevant measures, including removing the information and saving records, before reporting to supervisory authorities,” the rules state.

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Dec 29 2012 | 12:15 AM IST

Explore News