Number of security, judicial officials micro blogging on the rise

More than 17,550 micro blog users verified as being affiliating with judicial and public security authorities in China had opened accounts to communicate with the public on the Twitter-like social media platform, Sina Weibo, as of the end of October.

A report Sina Weibo released on Thursday said the number of verified accounts with such backgrounds was as few as around 600 at the end of 2010.

Organizations and individuals at administrative levels under the county-level make up 86 percent of all the accounts, it said.

"Grassroots authorities have gradually realized the role of micro blog," said Zhou Xiaopeng, deputy web editor-in-chief of Sina. "They've become better at using new media to enhance their influence, deliver messages and carry out their duties."

The report said 49 percent of the accounts are from Henan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces.

Micro blogs affiliated with public security authorities represent the largest group, with 15,563 accounts, the report said.