The platform public account IP territorial function has been upgraded. A month ago, Sina Weibo launched the "Display User IP Territory" function, which is accurate to the province/region in China, and displayed to the country abroad, which is displayed on the profile page. According to the Weibo announcement and the actual measurement of Nandu reporters, the current Weibo comment area has also begun to show the user's IP territory, and at the same time, Weibo emphasizes that users cannot actively turn on or off the function.
The Weibo comment area shows the user's IP territory. Image source: Sina Weibo.
Nandu reporter learned that all Internet access devices will be assigned an IP address, and each IP address has a home, that is, IP territory.
On April 28, Sina Weibo issued an announcement saying that in order to reduce bad behaviors such as impersonating parties to hot events, malicious rumors, and rubbing traffic, and to ensure the authenticity and transparency of the disseminated content, the site launched an online display of the user's "IP territory" function in March this year. On the basis of the previous upgrade, the site upgraded the product and launched new features, specifically: full open comments to display the IP territorial functions, and the online personal homepage level page to display IP territorial functions. At the same time, Weibo said that the function cannot be actively turned on or off by users.
Screenshot of Weibo announcement.
Some netizens found that there are still some accounts that do not show ip territory. Sina Weibo CEO Wang Gaofei @ forwarded Weibo between the comings and goings, saying that at present, the front-end real-name media, government agencies, enterprises, and celebrities do not show their place of origin for the time being, because they have "front-end real-name authentication", but the "background real-name" authentication users still have to show the territory.
@Weibo screenshots between coming and going.
The so-called "background real name" is based on the "network real name system" proposed in the Provisions on the Administration of Internet User Account Names (2015), that is, Internet information service providers are required to register an account after authentication through real identity information in accordance with the principle of "background real name and front desk voluntariness".
In addition to Weibo, there are six major Internet content platforms such as Toutiao, Douyin, Baijia, Kuaishou, Zhihu and Xiaohongshu at the same time announcing "public account IP territory" on April 15. Among them, Douyin, Today's Headlines, Zhihu, and Xiaohongshu said that the function is still in the testing stage.
The six major platforms announced "open account IP territory" on the same day
A number of Internet-related people told Nandu reporters that the unified launch of this function on major platforms is in response to the relevant requirements of the State Internet Information Office.
On October 26, 2021, the Cyberspace Administration of China issued the Provisions on the Administration of Internet User Account Name Information (Draft for Solicitation of Comments) (hereinafter referred to as the "Draft for Comments"), which intends to require platforms to display the territorial information of the account IP address on the user account information page: the territorial information of the IP address of the domestic user account should be marked to the province (autonomous region, city), and the territorial information of the IP address of the overseas account should be marked to the country (region). At present, the Draft for Comments has not yet officially entered into force.
After the latest announcement on Weibo, netizens had different attitudes. Proponents believe that this will make netizens responsible for their words and deeds. Opponents argue that the move could increase regional discrimination, be suspected of violating privacy, and fail to provide users with the right to refuse.
Zuo Xiaodong, a professor at the School of Public Affairs of the University of Science and Technology of China, believes that the publication of IP territories has the need to prevent fraud (such as foreign criminals pretending to contact public prosecutorial and legal organs to contact users), and it is convenient for users to identify false information (such as domestic users disguising themselves as people outside the country to make remarks).
"Even if it is reasonable to publish the territory of the IP, is it protecting the user's personal information to the greatest extent?" At the end of the day, it's a matter of balance, not black and white. He stressed that even if it is reasonable, the consent of the user must be obtained, unless it is to fulfill the statutory obligation.
Wang Xizin, a professor at Peking University Law School, said bluntly that although disclosing IP territorial information to the provincial level does not necessarily increase the user's identifiability, if the IP territorial information is combined with other information of the user, it may form a clear puzzle for the individual.
Written by: Nandu reporter Sun Chao