China ISPs must delete ‘illegal’ posts and snitch on users

China has approved tough new internet laws that will require service providers to take an active role in censoring “illegal” online content. According to state news agency Xinhua, ISPs will have to “instantly stop the transmission” of any information deemed illegal before saving records and reporting the offense to authorities. The new legislation also includes a previously-announced clause stating that anyone signing up for internet service must provide authentic identification to providers, meaning that the Chinese government should have little trouble tracking down online dissidents. China’s Communist Party is expected to appoint a new leadership in March, but it doesn’t look like the government plans to loosen its grip on the internet any time soon.