BEIJING - The Chinese government just implemented a new regulation that will definitely set some restrictions, and control content, when it comes to instant messaging services. These new rules require users to use their real names when registering for public accounts.

In an effort to make users responsible for the content they put out, real names are now required for registering for public accounts, and only authorized news media are allowed to publish or re-publish content through these public accounts.

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According to the State Internet Information Office (SIIO), this new regulation should be able to promote the fast-growing instant messaging industry and to protect national security and the public interest. The regulation was passed last Thursday.

Tencent's mobile text and messaging service WeChat currently holds 5.8 million accounts where the new regulation will be immediately effective on this app. Other instant messaging apps that will be affected by this new regulation are Tencent's QQ, Xinhua's Miliao app, and Alibaba's Laiwang app.

These service providers are now required to review the registrant's personal details where they are obliged to provide real names only.

According to a spokesman of SIIO, this regulation will hopefully alleviate some netizens' deep concerns and "bitter feelings" when other users use instant messaging as a platform to promote terrorism and violence, even pornography.

Providers of instant messaging services are responsible for safe operations and are subject to public supervision and should be able to reprimand illegal information in a timely manner.

When users break these rules and regulations, regulators will warn these violators and limit their use of these instant messaging services. Based on the degree of violation, users will be suspended from their account renewals or even get their accounts closed.

Last month, China blocked overseas messaging applications by Line Corp. and Kakao Corp. in an effort to step up their web censorship campaign.

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