Internet users in China will have to use their real names while being online or making any online transactions, according to a recent report by AP. As the new order materializes, Chinese users will gradually have to use their real names to go online, posts comments, chat, use web apps and even while buying a new mobile phone.
In recent times, China's Internet Censorship and related programs have puzzled many. Also, the Chinese government renewed Google's Internet content provider license after the company agreed not to re-route the traffic to its google.com.hk site that is devoid of China's online censorship. This call for anonymity reduction might be attributed to Google's accusations of Cyberattacks originating from China.
China reportedly has 233 million mobile Internet using people. The online population of China is over 400 million and so, formulating Internet Censorship policies certainly isn't that easy. However, China's Online Censorship has been pervasive and the government is working to implement stricter controls. This means there won't be any guest logins at forums and anonymous posting anywhere on the Chinese Cyberspace. This might put off a lot of Internet users in China.
Earlier this month, the Indian government had asked Google, Skype and Research in Motion to store their data in readable format for Indian securities and intelligence agencies. Now what if the Indian government decides to implement a legislature that Internet users must use real names to go online? Well, obviously it is for security and censorship reasons.