Weibo asking users to register identities

Two micro-bloggers were found to be responsible for the information, the Beijing public security bureau said on Thursday.

One of the men, surnamed Li, was given criminal detention for writing the post, and the other, surnamed Liu, was admonished for forwarding it without confirming its accuracy, according to the police.

"The police will crack down on online rumors and we are asking residents and netizens to report fake information to us," said Zi Xiangdong, spokesman of the Beijing public security bureau.

However, the new policy raises concern among Weibo users.

"I will not submit my personal information to the company, because I'm afraid my information might be leaked when the company transfers it to the police for validation," said Zhang Fan, an employee at a media company in Beijing.

"Besides, the honor medal does not appeal to me at all," she added.

Liu Honghui, a Beijing lawyer specializing in online cases, said the identity system will be helpful in cases in which someone has pirated other people's identities to spread rumors.

Meanwhile, he emphasized that the company and government departments should manage private information properly.