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New rules on internet accounts to take effect in Aug

By CAO YIN | chinadaily.com.cn | Updated: 2022-06-27 19:11

A new regulation released by the country's top internet watchdog on Monday calls for better management of user accounts to safeguard national security and the public interest.

Internet service providers have the obligation to verify the identity of users and show their IP addresses, according to the regulation on the management of internet user accounts, released by the Cyberspace Administration of China.

Internet service providers should also strengthen the verification of accounts that contain content or logos involving the State or government agencies to prevent someone from falsely portraying such departments to mislead the public, according to the new rules which take effect Aug 1.

To prevent the use of fake occupational information to cheat others or disturb online order, the rules also stipulate occupational contents of an internet user's account should be consistent with his or her real jobs. For example, if a man wants to register an account in the name of "doctor Zhang", he should be a real doctor with verifiable credentials.

Additionally, the rules ask internet service providers to add a special mark for accounts involving some professional fields, such as press, economy, education, health and justice, to help the public better distinguish them.

The administration said in recent years the country has seen a rapid development of internet information services, with user accounts becoming an important way for netizens to show their personalities and communicate with others.

At the same time, irregularities such as registering and using accounts to fabricate or disseminate false information or to promote cyberbullying have also emerged, which has harmed national security and the public interest as well as infringed upon the rights of others, it said.

"So, we made the rules in accordance with the Cybersecurity Law and the Personal Information Protection Law to draw bottom lines for account registration, use and management as well as clarify the responsibilities and duties of internet service providers," an official from the authority said.

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