SIIO

Latest

  • China wants you to use your real name on social media

    by 
    Daniel Cooper
    Daniel Cooper
    08.08.2014

    Social media's reputation for usurping the political classes means that it terrifies most some world leaders. That's probably the reasoning behind China's decision to pass a law mandating that users of internet-based communication services like IMs and social media must use their real name, or else. According to the state-run Xinhua News, users will now sign up to a service like WeChat, but won't gain access until they pass a background check. A spokesperson for the State Internet Information Office (SIIO) claims that "a few people" are using online chat services to spread dissent, slanders, rumors, terrorism, violence and pornography, which they claim is harming the overall health of China's leaders online population.