New rules require real name for live video streaming

Six national offices issued a new regulation strengthening the management of live video streaming by requiring a real name and implementing a blacklist system.

Live streaming platforms should file and record their information at public security organs within 30 days since their live stream service is put online, according to a notice released by the National Office Against Pornographic and Illegal Publications on Monday.

The regulation was jointly issued by five other national offices, including the National Radio and Television Administration and the Ministry of Public Security.

The regulation requires a real name system by companies which provide network access service, and it also urges the establishment of a “blacklist of anchors.”

Application stores and network access providers in the Chinese mainland are not allowed to provide services to platforms that fail to obtain an operating permit or fail to record information at public security organs, read the notice.

The regulation specifies the responsibilities of live streaming platforms, network access providers and application stores, people.com.cn reported on Tuesday.

Public security authorities in Chenzhou, Central China’s Hunan Province closed a live streaming platform with pornographic content and 35 live streaming sites, which involved 163 people and 350 million yuan ($51.47 million), chinanews.com.cn reported on Friday.

A netizen had spent 140,000 yuan on the platform in a month, the report said.

In July, Sina Weibo banned 6,150 accounts, among which 1,895 reportedly published harmful information on politics, and 4,255 others had pornographic content.