Another e-Crack Down In China

After Internet, cell phone and text message users impacted the future construction of a chemical plant in China, Xiamen city has issued a ban on anonymopus Internet posting said to apply to over 100,000 registered websites.

XIAMEN, China, July 7 (UPI) -- A Chinese city plans to ban anonymous online postings after Internet users successfully campaigned to stop completion of a chemical factory. The ban mandates Internet users must provide proof of their real identify when posting messages on more than 100,000 Web sites registered in Xiamen, the Times of London reported Saturday.

City officials acted after thousands of residents rallied each other through cell phone text messages and Internet blogs to march on the site of a $14 million chemical plant. Construction since has been stopped pending an investigation into environmental concerns, the Times reported.

Xiamen will be the first city in China to officially ban anonymous Internet postings, said Tian Feng, vice-director of the Xiamen Bureau of Industry and Commerce.

Comments

[Phoenix]

Yay! It can be done. What good news. Let it be inspiration for us.

Too bad about them having to use their own names. How's that for the Chinese method of handling dissent. You must sign your name so we will know to pick you up, jail you and beat you daily for twenty years.

[seekeronos]

Interesting thing with the ChiComs is... they don't do much of anything halfway.

Killing some 30 million folks during Mao's "Great Leap Forward" and the "Cultural Revolution"... to becoming the factory of the world... to now couching (party-supported, of course) industries beyond the reach of the "masses" when they favour industrial development over fouling their own beds (i.e. their environment) to spite their own noses later down the road.

Looks like our resident lefties/Al-Gore-holics should drop on by Mr. Hu Jin Tao's office for a quick reminder that he's slipping off the green communist bandwagon. I'd bet he'd really give a caring ear to his fellow comrades' pleas to save the Chinese wetlands and reduce their emissions so that Mother Gaea doesn't overheat.

[Islamollama]

The Green Communist bandwagon? When have communist nations ever been green?

That said, I imagine China is learning the great folly of overregulation day by day, now. Banning anonymous message posting? Good freak'n luck. Maybe next they can try to ban l33t speak. China is going to wedge itself into a technological corner if it keeps fighting the internet like this.

[Phoenix]

Google is playing ball with China, and Google runs the planet. But I have no doubt hackers have already found a way around Google's goodness.

You need to read for satirical commentary, IL. sheesh.

[China Tattler]

Many Americans say when they hear about illegal wiretapping and electronic eavesdropping by thier government that only the terrorists and criminals should object to the measures.

People say things like this when the FBI, CIA, NSA, or other organisation is accused of tracing someone else's computer activity:

"If you've got nothing to hide, then don't worry."
"The government must have a good reason to do it or they wouldn't."
"If you haven't done anything wrong, then you have nothing to fear."
"Think of the Children!"
"Better we eavesfrop on them now, than they bomb us later."

So, it's okay when the American government does that sort of thing, but it becomes a big human rights issue when Chinese net users have to use their real names?

Come on!

The hypocrisy is just too much to bear!