(ECNS) -- China's IT giant Tencent will allow users of its popular messaging software QQ to permanently delete their accounts, the first such move since it went online 20 years ago.
Tencent said the function will be an option on its upcoming version of the software - QQ7.9.9. It tested the function on March 20 last year but cancelled the choice after just two days.
QQ was first released in February 1999 under the name OICQ, a reference to the early IM service ICQ. Now with 800 million active monthly users, QQ also offers services that include music, shopping and blogging.
A regulation related to user digital information protection, which took effect on Sept. 1, 2013, stipulated telecommunications and Internet service providers must allow users the option to delete their accounts.
In the past, Tencent has introduced many measures that led to users having their accounts deleted by QQ administration, for example, if a user didn't log in within three months.
Other popular apps in China, including Weibo, online shopping platform Taobao, mobile payment app Alipay and Tencent's other social media app WeChat, all allow users to delete their accounts.
