DHAKA: Chinese will no longer be able to use nicknames such as ‘Obama’ and ‘Putin’ for their internet accounts under new regulations that will take effect on March 1, in the latest move by the government to tighten its control over cyberspace.

Besides the ‘inappropriate’ and ‘unlawful’ screen names, accounts pretending to be government organisations, celebrities and officials will also be banned.

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said on Wednesday, The Straits Times publishes on Thursday.

The prohibition will also apply to nicknames that appear to advertise cults or pornography, or that damage state security.

The new rule requires netizens to use registered account names on virtually all platforms, including blogs, social networking tools and messaging applications, said Xu Feng, director of CAC’s mobile network management bureau.

BDST: 2035 HRS, FEB 05, 2015