Chatters have to have real names

First, there was Thailand, which had the idea to register prepaid mobile phone users. Malaysia picked up on the idea (may be it came up by herself).

Korea furthered the idea and came up with a registration system requiring internet users to use their real names.

And now it is China's turn - China, that already requires bloggers to register or be shut down, has the great idea that instant messenger users register their real names. The Chinese protest against it, and there are a lot of potential protesters.

The mainland's dominant instant messenger portal, QQ, requires that organisers and governors of chat groups register their real names. This has triggered a storm of protest among users. QQ has more than 400 million registered users, and membership is required to take part in its chat groups.

Ooopsa.

(By Asia Business Consulting)