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Complying with local laws, even ones that could jeopardize the liberty of Chinese bloggers, has been the mantra of tech companies doing business in China.

Reporters Without Borders is already hopping mad at both Yahoo and Microsoft for acceding to Chinese government requirements on censorship, and in Yahoo’s case, its role in the prosecution of three journalists in the country.

The journalist rights advocacy group has something new to bash the two big Internet players over, along with a number of other companies. Reporters Without Borders criticized the two companies for signing off on a Chinese “self-discipline pact” that looks like a lead-in to censorship as well as an end to anonymous blogging:

Under the new pact, blog service providers are “encouraged” to register users under their real names and contact information before letting them post blogs. More seriously, they will be required to keep this information, which will allow the authorities to identify them. These companies have already in the past provided the police with information about their clients, resulting in arrests.

Along with Microsoft’s and Yahoo’s Chinese-based domains, major native portals Sohu and Tom were among those companies agreeing to adhere to the pact.

Blogging, China, Microsoft, Yahoo, RSF

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