互聯網群組實名制(hùliánwǎng qúnzǔ shímíngzhì): Real name registration of internet group

The Cyberspace Administration of China recently issued a document on the regulation of internet group information service, which stipulates the founder or organizer of an internet group is responsible for its management. The regulation, to come into effect on Oct 8, is aimed at preventing the spread of illegal contents and activities such as obscenity, violence, rumors, pyramid schemes and fraud. Unwittingly or otherwise, such contents are spread among internet groups through apps such as Wechat.

The document says the information service provider of internet groups should lay down management regulations, and the internet service users should register using their real name. Information service provider refers to the platforms that provide internet group information service, and information service users refer to the founder or organizer and members of an internet group.

The information service provider should also establish a credit rating management system for information service users, and take necessary measures to protect the users' personal information.

Moreover, internet group information service providers should take strict action against those internet group users who violate the rules and regulations, and establish a sound complaint-filing and reporting mechanism to accept supervision from the public and industry organizations, as well as to deal with complains and reports.