The Great Firewall

China Tightens Internet Rules

Service providers must delete “illegal” posts.

China is making its Internet controls even tighter. New rules unveiled on Friday would require users to use their real names when signing up with service providers and legally require those providers to delete posts containing “illegal information.” They must also take “relevant measures, including removing the information and saving records, before reporting to supervisory authorities.” The stricter rules come after a series of government-corruption scandals, which Internet users exposed. A government spokesman said, “When people exercise their rights, including the right to use the Internet, they must do so in accordance with the law and Constitution, and not harm the legal rights of the state, society ... or other citizens.”