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| Different opinions are seen on the Internet
toward whether or not a blog real name system should be
implemented. |
With widespread online rumor saying China will implement a
blog real name system, the
Internet Society of China (ISC) has clarified that so far the Ministry of
Information Industry has not officially made any related policies.
However, a real name system will be an unavoidable choice if China
wants to standardize and develop its blog industry, Huang Chengqing, ISC
secretary general, told Xinhua on Sunday.
Under such a system, a netizen has to register with his real name to
open a blog, but can still write under a
pseudonym, according to Huang.
Different opinions are seen on the Internet toward whether or not the
system should be implemented.
A netizen named Xiaosha said the real name system may water down speech
liberty and flexibility of bloggers and even threaten the safety of their
privacies.
However, another netizen called Tinghai believed that the tricks, porns
and rights infringement in
China's blogs will never be curbed or reduced unless a real name system is
shaped and starts running.
In August, 2006, associate professor Chen Tangfa from Nanjing
University won his lawsuit against a blog company.
Chen accused the company of having failed to properly deal with some
insulting comments on him, which were spread by an anonymous blogger on the Internet.
Huang said the foundation of the blog real name system is an
equilibrium between freedom and responsibility. "There exists no freedom
without any abstention, and to limit also benefits the further development
of this industry."
He said the system they have recommended is a background real name
system, which requires bloggers provide their real names and other real
information when applying for a blog but allows them to use pseudonyms in
their blog articles.
According to ISC's survey, about half of Chinese netizens support the
real name system. Another survey showed that half of the bloggers opened
their blogs to "share with others their own thoughts and resources," and
some others to store materials and data, communicate, and keep up with the
latest information.
China has about 17.5 million bloggers according to a recent ISC
report.
(China Daily) | 
