China restricts use of personal domain names

Dec 15, 2009, 12:13 GMT

Beijing - China has banned the registration of internet domain names for personal use unless they are operated by licensed businesses or state-approved organizations, state media said Tuesday.

The China Internet Network Information Centre issued new rules from Monday requiring the presentation of a business licence and identity card to register a personal website with a service provider, the official China Daily and other media reported.

Registration must also be completed in person under the rules, which are part of the government's 'fight against pornographic websites,' the newspaper said.

'The applications in written form, rather than online application, can make our work more accurate,' Liu Zhijiang, the centre's vice director, was quoted as saying.

The tighter screening of applicants was designed to 'stop individuals obtaining domain names using fake information' and to reduce the 'illegal application of domains,' Liu said.

Chinese government campaigns against online pornography usually target all 'unhealthy' content, which includes any political views that differ from those of the ruling Communist Party.

China's 'Great Firewall' of online controls prevents the country's estimated 300 million internet users from accessing hundreds of websites that are deemed politically sensitive.

Tens of thousands of small internet cafes have been closed in recent years with the government favouring large chains that can be relied upon to monitor and control online activity.

Evidence from postings on websites has also been used in the conviction of several dissidents.