China plans to crack down on internet use under a new "real name verification system" which allows police to check the identity card numbers of all game players, the Financial Times reported. Online games are very popular in China, where millions of people regularly log on to role-playing and fantasy games as well as massive online communities. Chinese regulators recently announced a push to "purify" the internet and want users to use their true identities online. Beijing is also looking for ways to get bloggers to use their real names. China's 18-digit ID numbers are based on place of birth, age and gender and are unique to each person. Widely available software can generate fake numbers. The new system would see police check each number, a government official said Monday. Players who are under 18 years old or who submit a fake ID number would be forced to play versions of games with anti-addiction features.
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