Internet real-name registration requires a user to provide personal identification credentials including his/her real name to an online service provider when registering for an account. In China, real-name registration has been implemented since 2010 for purchasing train tickets and mobile phone SIM cards. In 2013, the Chinese government announced that real-name registration would be implemented for Internet users to protect against cyber crimes, including cyber bullying, rumor spreading and identity theft. When real-name registration is in place, law enforcement agencies can obtain the real identity of a user who attempts to leverage the anonymity provided by the Internet to conduct criminal activities. However, real-name registration also potentially infringes on online privacy.