A city in central China has banned any unauthorized attempt to
trace the true identities of Internet users to prevent possible
revenge for comments they post on the Web, and the city government
vowed to pay more attention to the opinions of the public via the
Internet.
"Irrelative agencies are not allowed to trace and investigate
the real identities of Internet users to ensure that people enjoy
their constitutional rights to free speech," the city government of
Luoyang, Henan Province, said in an official notice, Dahe.com
reported today.
Telecommunication carriers and supervision bodies at all Web
chat rooms in the city should protect users' privacy according to
China's laws and are not allowed to offer background information on
Web users to unauthorized people, the report said.
Police authorities may probe reports that claim the prosecution
and discipline supervision watchdogs seek revenge on online
whistleblowers after they find their true ID, the report added.
The Luoyang government last month pledged that it would welcome
the public playing a stronger role in the city affairs through the
Internet, a step it hopes will lead to a more transparent
government.
To encourage more ideas from Web users, the government said it
will release investigation reports related with any major accidents
in the city on the Internet to encourage public supervision, the
report said.
But the government also warned that it would punish those who
release false information on the Internet, especially those who
have caused a negative impact on society.
(Shanghai Daily August 24, 2007)