In an evident move which will help China tighten its control on user-generated content, the proposal for updates to the existing Internet censorship laws chiefly calls for an extension of real name registration rules to all blogs and internet forums.

The proposal - which has been put forth in a draft update of the government's 12-year-old "Methods for Governance of Internet Information Services" regulations - requires that the definition of Internet information service providers should be widened so that online forums, blogs and microblogs are included.

In addition, the proposal also includes the requirement that microblog operators - such as Sina Corp and Tencent Holding - obtain an administrative license for touting their offerings online, as well as keep "log information" for a period of alt ;east one year, and help the police with technical support whenever they need to investigate users.

The draft - which is open for public comment till July 6 - essentially underscores that Internet information service providers that enable users to post information on the Internet should make sure that the users are registered with their real identities.

With the extension of the current Internet censorship regulations to all online forums and blogs, the responsibility for the posted content will lie with the sites in question --- a move which will amount to self-censorship, and will thus be a cheaper and seemingly a more effective censorship strategy for the central government!