Some of Beijing's bars, restaurants, hotels and bookstores have been ordered to install costly Web-monitoring software to record customers' identities and Internet activities.

Customers are logging onto the free wireless in a cafe bar.

The software, which was developed by Shanghai Rainsoft Company, will cost business owners 20,000 yuan (US$3,100) to 40,000 yuan to install, The Beijing News reported yesterday. It provides public security officials the identities of those logging onto the wireless service of a restaurant, cafe or private school and monitors their web activity.

The identities of the Internet users, their location, the websites they visited and their user names, would be kept in the system's files for up to 60 days for police to check, an unnamed company official told the newspaper. He said the system was designed to help police catch suspects at large.

Those who ignore the regulation and provide unfettered access may face a 15,000-yuan fine.

According to China Daily, all small businesses with WiFi in Dongcheng district was asked to install the software during a meeting at the district's public security bureau on July 22.

Many business owners in the city expressed disapproval when they were told how much the installation would cost.

Ye Jia, a cafe owner said, "I won't use the software, because I can't afford the expensive fees. And if the restriction on the wireless service is put into effect, my cafe will be affected and I won't be able to keep offering this service."

A 40-year-old customer surnamed Guan using the WiFi in a Sculpting in Time cafe in Chaoyang district said she thought the regulation violated her privacy.

"I don't want to be watched. It will make me uncomfortable," said Guan, who works for a consulting company.

Beijing police told The Beijing News they would not profit from the installation of the software and said the campaign would be promoted across the country in the future.