Sina Weibo suspends user's access rights for real-name registration

Sina Weibo, the main microblogging social platform in China, will officially enter the age of real-name access starting Thursday, the deadline for its users to complete registration with their real names.

Users have been given a week to verify their accounts with real names before the deadline. Starting Thursday, the platform will suspend the access rights for those who fail to complete the process, including the ability to comment, repost and update their accounts.

The move was in line with regulation issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China on August 25, requiring all websites to stop providing commenting services for users without real-name registration.

Sina Weibo's logo

Sina Weibo first started requiring its users to register with their real names in 2011, and has been a frequent subject of debate. The regulation brought it to the spotlight again, with the public diverging on their opinions of the rule.

For supporters of the new rule, they believe that with real-name registration, the haunting problems of the Internet such as online fraud, violence and bullying could be curbed.

But many worry that a possible leakage of their information could become a real risk.

"I cannot trust my personal information with the website operators. What if they cannot properly protect the information? Will it be used by criminals?" an anonymous Weibo user told the China News Service.

App logos of WeChat and Weibo.

Others expressed concern for information which may fall prey to the so-called "human flesh search" – the phenomenon of Internet users attacking others by revealing their personal information online.

Sina Weibo responded to inquiries, confirming that the website will delete the personal information after verification is complete.

China's Cyberspace Administration requires all website operators to take measures to safeguard the users’ personal information.

According to their quarterly report,, as of March 31 this year, Sina Weibo has 340 million active users, surpassing its counterpart Twitter.

The Cyberspace Administration requires all social media platforms with group chat functionality, such as QQ and WeChat, to complete all users’ real-name registration before October 8.

(CGTN)