Yahoo China & MSN China Sign Controversial “Self-Discipline Pact” With China

Aug 27, 2007 at 10:13am ET by Barry Schwartz

Yahoo!, Microsoft ink web pact with Chinese government from The Register reports Yahoo China and MSN China have signed a pact with the Chinese government that “encourages” rather than requires bloggers to identify themselves to the companies with real names, contact details and for the companies to censor material.

Reporters Without Borders claims the new “self-discipline pact” from the Internet Society of China will make it easier for the Chinese government to crack down on bloggers.

This decision will have grave consequences for the Chinese blogosphere and marks the end of anonymous blogging. A new wave of censorship and repression seems imminent.

Microsoft has said despite the pact, it will not require real name registration.

Barry Schwartz is Search Engine Land's News Editor and owns RustyBrick, a NY based web consulting firm. He also runs Search Engine Roundtable, a popular search blog on very advanced SEM topics. Barry's personal blog is named Cartoon Barry and he can be followed on Twitter here.

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