China tightens Web controls; commenters must register real names

#1

Post by dak1 » Wed, Feb 04, 2015, 4:35 PM UTC

China tightens Web controls; commenters must register real names
latimes.com

Re: China tightens Web controls; commenters must register real names

#2

Post by parennoob » Wed, Feb 04, 2015, 5:13 PM UTC

I fail to see how this is different from Facebook (and formerly Google+)'s real names policy which will flag unusual names and force you to give a valid Government ID to reactivate your account.

Facebook (along with Twitter) is often the gateway to commenting on a lot of popular sites in the US. Very few people stop and make the alternate account required.

References:

1. https://www.facebook.com/help/159096464162185

2. http://boingboing.net/2011/08/27/eric-schmidt-if-you-cant-us...

Re: China tightens Web controls; commenters must register real names

#3

Post by screwedup » Wed, Feb 04, 2015, 5:16 PM UTC

Before you start thinking "oh, those crazy Chinese...", remember that many people in the USA (and other western countries) fervently believe that we should do the same thing.

Re: China tightens Web controls; commenters must register real names

#4

Post by screwedup » Wed, Feb 04, 2015, 5:17 PM UTC

parennoob wrote: post #2

I fail to see how this is different from Facebook (and formerly Google+)'s real names policy which will flag unusual names and force you to give a valid Government ID to reactivate your account. Facebook (along with Twitter) is often the gateway to commenting on a lot of popular sites in the US. Very few people stop and make the alternate account required. References: 1. https://www.facebook.com/help/159096464162185…

One is a decision by a private company (which you can get around by using a different service) and one is a mandate from the government.

Re: China tightens Web controls; commenters must register real names

#5

Post by buro9 » Wed, Feb 04, 2015, 5:19 PM UTC

Does this apply to Chinese commenters on overseas blogs and forums?

If so, they've just solved a huge chunk of the comment spam problem.

Re: China tightens Web controls; commenters must register real names

#6

Post by hyperpape » Wed, Feb 04, 2015, 5:20 PM UTC

parennoob wrote: post #2

I fail to see how this is different from Facebook (and formerly Google+)'s real names policy which will flag unusual names and force you to give a valid Government ID to reactivate your account. Facebook (along with Twitter) is often the gateway to commenting on a lot of popular sites in the US. Very few people stop and make the alternate account required. References: 1. https://www.facebook.com/help/159096464162185…

In case anyone hasn't previously encountered Poe's law, this post is a great example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe%27s_law.

Re: China tightens Web controls; commenters must register real names

#7

Post by arca_vorago » Wed, Feb 04, 2015, 5:21 PM UTC

What really bugs me is that this is the same direction a lot of policy makers and even tech companies seem to want to go, all the while decrying the Chinese for the same actions. I hope we don't allow it to progress that far in the US, but we really need to step up to the debate when people start droning on about cybersecurity, trolling, libel, and defamation on the Internet. Perhaps I'm just in the minority that thinks free speech should include the right to offend and we should not allow everyone to get offended at anything they want and get it banned.

Youtube co-founder jawed's first youtube comment: "why the fuck do i need a google+ account to comment on a video?"

Re: China tightens Web controls; commenters must register real names

#8

Post by hyperpape » Wed, Feb 04, 2015, 5:21 PM UTC

screwedup wrote: post #3

Before you start thinking "oh, those crazy Chinese...", remember that many people in the USA (and other western countries) fervently believe that we should do the same thing.

I think one can think both that the Chinese government is exceptionally repressive and be scared how many people in the West might be willing to follow their lead.

Thankfully, I don't think a real names policy has much chance in the US for the time being.

Re: China tightens Web controls; commenters must register real names

#9

Post by arca_vorago » Wed, Feb 04, 2015, 5:22 PM UTC

screwedup wrote: post #4

parennoob wrote: post #2

I fail to see how this is different from Facebook (and formerly Google+)'s real names policy which will flag unusual names and force you to give a valid Government ID to reactivate your account. Facebook (along with Twitter) is often the gateway to commenting on a lot of popular sites in the US. Very few people stop and make the alternate account required. References: 1. https://www.facebook.com/help/159096464162185…

One is a decision by a private company (which you can get around by using a different service) and one is a mandate from the government.

Given both Googles and Facebooks origin funding, I think a debate could be had about this point.

Re: China tightens Web controls; commenters must register real names

#10

Post by dmfdmf » Wed, Feb 04, 2015, 5:22 PM UTC

screwedup wrote: post #4

parennoob wrote: post #2

I fail to see how this is different from Facebook (and formerly Google+)'s real names policy which will flag unusual names and force you to give a valid Government ID to reactivate your account. Facebook (along with Twitter) is often the gateway to commenting on a lot of popular sites in the US. Very few people stop and make the alternate account required. References: 1. https://www.facebook.com/help/159096464162185…

One is a decision by a private company (which you can get around by using a different service) and one is a mandate from the government.

This is exactly what he fails to see.