4 February 2015 Last updated at 10:15 ET
People use computers in an internet cafe in Beijing, China, 27 January 2015
China’s internet watchdog says the restrictions will “protect” users’ rights
China’s internet watchdog has banned web users from posting messages under the names of famous people.
The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said it was combating the “vulgar culture” of using names like Barack Obama, or those of Chinese officials.
The CAC is a Communist Party organ overseen by President Xi Jinping, so its rules will carry more force than those of other regulators.
Similar restrictions by other bodies have been sidestepped by web firms.
The CAC announced a series of measures that would be in force from 1 March.
It said nicknames should not include information that could violate the constitution, subvert state power, undermine national security or promote rumour-mongering.
In addition, web users must sign a pledge to avoid “illegal and unhealthy” internet activity, and register accounts under their real names even if they want to post under nicknames.
Measures criticised
CAC’s head of mobile internet, Xu Feng, promised that the new regulations would not limit users’ freedom.
“This does not restrict internet users, instead it protects their legitimate rights,” he said.
Real-name registration has been a goal of the Chinese authorities for years.
The State Internet Information Office (SIIO), an organ of the State Council, passed similar rules in 2012.
The office announced last month that it would step up its efforts to enforce users of microblogs, smartphone chat apps to register with real names.
But campaigners have decried the regulations as a crackdown on free speech, and the SIIO has been largely unable to enforce the measures.
