Chinese style muzzle: video upload by name only

Chinese authorities will further tighten controls on Internet content: from now on, only registrants with their own name will be able to upload video to national portals.

According to Monday's announcement by the State Television, Radio and Film Office (SARFT), the measure is aimed at preventing the disclosure of inappropriate content - vulgar, violent or erotic - that is harmful to society.

Internet video sharing portals are enjoying unprecedented popularity in the East Asian country, with a user base of over 450 million last year. According to industry reports, the value of the Internet video market increased by 37 percent to 12,2 billion yuan (about HUF 450 billion) in 2013, and this value is forecast to double by 2016.

Monday’s action by SARFT can be seen as part of the Chinese government’s campaign to clean up internet content last year. In addition to its real beneficial effect, it is also a means of maintaining censorship and undermining freedom of expression, human rights defenders remind.

As part of the government’s campaign, regulations on microblogging have been tightened in the past, meaning those who make false claims can even be prosecuted since the autumn. By the end of 2013, the authorities had shut down thousands of websites, silenced dozens of previously vocal opinion leaders, and suspended the blogs and microblogs of many influential personalities.

(MTI)