Fake identities and social networks
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The Chinese government recently imposed regulations on the online gaming industry to protect minors. According to a Ministry of Culture ruling published on June 22, gamers have to supply their original identification documents before they can register to play. The regulation is a step forward, but it does not go far enough.
There are over 200 million registered users of social networking sites in China, but the safeguards in place to prevent people fabricating identities are very weak. Direct marketing agents and advertising firms can take advantage of loopholes to collect personal information about users.
In its "Blue book of new media," the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences criticizes social networking sites for gathering personal information and selling it to third parties without consent. But the "Blue book" did not recommend any legislation to regulate these sites.
Netizens are often reluctant to use their own identity for fear it will restrict their ability to say what they want to say. And many people complain that they have found online accounts set up using their identities that they themselves do not own.
Social network services need formal regulations about the age of their users. As things stand most of them don't impose age restrictions on opening an account. That means that all age groups have access to all sorts of materials on their services.
Most sites ask users to create at least a basic profile, including name, age, status, photo and interests, but sometimes the users go much further. Many post their chat id, cell phone number and email addresses online. They share their pictures and personal details with all other users regardless of age or sex.
The gaming industry has already been ordered to implement real name registration. It is time for regulators to force social networking sites to link online identities with real people.
The author is a Phd student from Bangladesh.
