http://www.qando.net/ - Can you say "chilling effect?"

The Internet Society of China has recommended to the government that bloggers be required to use their real names when they register blogs, state media said on Monday, in the latest attempt to regulate free-wheeling Web content.

The society, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Information Industry, said no decision had been made but that a 'real name system' was inevitable.

"A real name system will be an unavoidable choice if China wants to standardize and develop its blog industry," the official Xinhua news agency quoted the Internet Society's secretary general, Huang Chengqing, as saying.

"We suggest, in a recent report submitted to the ministry, that a real name system be implemented in China's blog industry," Huang said.

The "Internet Society of China" is affiliated with the Ministry of Information? Oh, yeah, I can see how such a society would represent well those using the internet such as bloggers.

No question, it's unavoidable given we're talking about China, but what is also unavoidable is the chilling effect this will have on any propensity to speak out ... which, of course is the point. Because everyone knows ...

Bloggers anonymously disseminating untrue information on the Internet brought about a negative influence on society, the Xinhua report said.

... and the benevolent state knows you haven't the wits or wherewithal to sort through that and discover the truth.

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Sounds like something McCain and Feingold could get behind.

Written By: Jordan
URL: http://

I thought free trade was suppose to end all that.

Maybe not.

Written By: jpm100
URL: http://

Let a million, Chinese sock-puppets bloom?

Written By: Steve
URL: http://

It would be interesting to find out the effect on the language and content of posting if you were required to post your real name along with it. I wonder the effect on Internet content and conversation. Anonymity tends to make attacks more vicious and less researched IMHO. Just as one is more imboldened in a car than they are walking down the sidewalk.

Written By: coaster
URL: http://

Anonymity tends to make attacks more vicious and less researched IMHO.

In America, it does. I can be pretty sure that the result in a communist dictatorship will be different, altho not 100% sure when the result can be imprisonment or death.

Written By: Josh
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