Under attack by Western media, China tightens Internet curbs

China on Friday tightened control over Internet usage making it mandatory for the users to register with their real names with the service providers, belying expectations of opening up after once-in-a-decade leadership change. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) – China’s Parliament – has approved the draft stating that it was aimed at protecting personal information, state-run CCTV reported. While critics slammed it as an attempt by the government to reinforce its controls on the Internet, especially the burgeoning social media through Chinese Twitter, Weibo, the government defended it as measure to protect the privacy.