Adapted by:
Javier Pastor
Senior WriterComputer scientist turned tech journalist. I've written about almost everything related to technology, but I specialize in hardware, operating systems and cryptocurrencies. I like writing about tech so much that I do it both for Xataka and Incognitosis, my personal blog.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
China is set to establish a new virtual identity system that will allow its citizens to register for several online services and platforms. This new system, currently voluntary, is called the “National Network Identity Authentication.” However, it’ll eliminate one of the few remaining avenues for anonymity for Chinese Internet users.
Virtual ID. The Chinese government published the regulations for this centralized Internet identity system in May 2025, but it won’t come into effect until July 15. Identity checks will become mandatory on all online platforms, making it extremely difficult for users to maintain anonymity on social media and other sites. This virtual ID card will function as a mobile app on NFC-enabled phones and can be set up by both adult and minor users.
Justification. According to official documents, the initiative aims to “protect citizens’ identity information, and support the healthy and orderly development of the digital economy.”
A “bullet-proof vest.” A report by CCTV, China’s official public television service, says that these measures are based on legal identity information and will provide a means to verify users across different services. According to the report, this will reduce the collection and retention of personal identity information. Local media have likened it to a “bullet-proof vest for personal information.”
Digital totalitarianism. Xiao Qiang is a researcher specializing in Internet censorship. He told CNN, “This is a state-led, unified identity system capable of real-time monitoring and blocking of users. It can directly erase voices it doesn’t like from the internet, so it’s more than just a surveillance tool–it is an infrastructure of digital totalitarianism.”
Yet another repressive measure. There’s the Internet that we all know and use, and then there’s the Chinese Internet. In China, censorship and control pervade every aspect of life, but it’s more evident than ever in terms of Internet access and usage. This has been particularly noticeable in recent years with the widespread ban on feminist and LGBT activism. Youth slang has also been eliminated on social media, while the government has cracked down on celebrity worship. The Chinese regime also has complete control over user comments on social media, allowing it to remove those deemed inappropriate.
State pseudonyms. According to the state media agency Xinhua, more than six million people have voluntarily registered to obtain the new virtual ID card. These “cyberspace IDs” can take two forms: a combination of letters and numbers or an online credential. Both options correspond to the user’s real identity but don’t include plain text information. In other words, they act as pseudonyms, but ones that are controlled by the state.
“Voluntary.” A representative from the Ministry of Public Security told Xinhua that this virtual ID card is voluntary. However, this claim is questionable. The Chinese government is promoting the integration of this system across various industries and sectors. Although the law presents the system as voluntary, it could ultimately become a requirement for users to access different platforms that adopt it, according to Haochen Sun, a law professor at the University of Hong Kong.
Silencing criticism. The system began to take shape over a year ago, when police executive Jia Xiaoliang proposed it during a meeting of the National People’s Congress in March 2024. Widespread criticism from experts followed, with Lao Dongyan, a prominent law professor at Tsinghua University, commenting on Weibo that the system could enable the installation of a “surveillance device on every individual’s online activity.”
Blowing off steam. The post was subsequently deleted, and the user’s account was suspended for three months for “violating relevant rules.” A year later, when the final rules of the project were published, there was virtually no criticism on social media. According to Xiao, this is a common tactic in China, allowing a period for some individuals to “blow off steam” before definitive measures are announced. This tactic diminishes the power of those dissenting voices.
Image | Bo Zhang
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