On 4 February, the Cyberspace Administration of China released the Administrative Provisions on the Account Names of Internet Users (the “Provisions”) taking effect on March 1, 2015.
For the purpose of the Provisions, the account names of internet users refer to the account names of entities or individuals which are registered or used for internet information services such as blogs, micro blogs, instant messengers, forums, post bars, follow-up comments, etc. The Provisions stress that internet information service providers are required to improve their user service agreements, explicitly prohibit illegal or offensive information from being included in the account names, photos and self-introductions of users. Internet service providers are required to hire professional staff commensurate with their scales of services to review the account names, photos and self-introductions submitted by internet users, and not to register account names including illegal and offensive information. They are also required to protect their users’ information and individuals’ privacy, accept public’s supervision, and deal with the illegal and offensive information in account names, photos, self-introductions and other registration-related information by any public whistleblower in a timely manner.
It remains a questions how many sites will comply with the Provisions. Since the Provisions has no non-compliance penalties, it will be very likely only large companies will try to comply with the new requirements.
