Below is an urgent notice many Chinese websites received on March 31 following the recent suspension of commenting on Weibo. Translated by Hernandez.
Urgent: Regarding Network and Information Security
Joint announcement from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Culture, effective immediately: For network and information security, all departments are to launch a real name registration crackdown between April 1, 2012 and August 1, 2012. During this period, clients are requested to suspend all services involving unregistered domain names; content related to pornography, gambling or drugs; pornographic information; illegal discussion forums; and counter-political activities.* This will be a wide-range, long-term and large-scale crackdown.
网络信息安全紧急通知
即日，接中华人民共和国工信部、公安部、文化部联合通知，2012年4月1日至2012年8月1日期间，各部门对网络信息安全进行实名制严打。在此期间，请客户停止一切未备案域名、黄赌毒、色情信息、违法论坛、反政治活动等业务。此次严打，涉及范围广，时间长，规模大。
* “Counter-political” (反政治) is a vague term used by the Chinese Communist Party which may imply disobeying the ruling of the CCP, and is somewhat similar to “counter-revolutionary.” It has nothing to do with being “anti-political.”
