The Chinese government has passed a regulation that will require users of instant messaging services to use real names when registering in an effort to hold users responsible for content. The regulation aims at promoting the healthy development of the fast-growing instant messaging sector and safeguarding national security and public interests, according to the State Internet Information Office (SIIO) which passed the new rule on Thursday.

Registrants of public accounts are obliged to register with real names and reviewed by service providers before being qualified to release information. First time users will be required to provide their real name, while users who have previously registered accounts will experience limited access to the instant messaging service.

Similar regulations were passed for China's microblogging service Sina Weibo in 2012.