Tuesday, September 1, 2015

China: 197 punished for spreading rumors online

A total of 197 people were punished for spreading rumors about the recent stock market fluctuations and the Tianjin Blasts on social media, authorities said on Sunday.

The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced on its official website on Sunday that perpetrators were punished for circulating rumors about China's stock market, the deadly Tianjin blasts and other events.

A total of 165 online accounts were closed for related violations.

The move is a part of a special campaign by Chinese police to crack down on online rumors.

Those punished in the campaign have since repented of their misdeeds and have acknowledged that their rumors "created panic, misled the public and caused disorder in the stock market and society," according to the MPS statement.

  • A 24-year-old netizen surnamed Ding who is reported to have spread misinformation stating that "at least 1,000 people were killed in the Tianjin blasts," said that she had never considered the consequences of her online remarks, nor did she consider that she would be held liable for spreading false information.

Among the circulated rumors are posts stating that the recent Tianjin blasts had "killed at least 1,000 people," that "Tianjin shopping malls were being looted" and that there would be a "leadership change in the Tianjin government," the CAC said.

According to Sunday's statement by the MPS, a fruit seller surnamed Sun confessed to spreading seditious rumors about the upcoming 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in order to attract attention and boost sales.

Other rumors circulating online include posts that a "man jumped to his death in Beijing due to the stock market slump," and that some relatives of senior officials in the Communist Party maliciously shorted the market in Hong Kong.

The ministry's statement pledged strict measures to enforce rule of law and punish Internet violations. It also called on Internet providers to strengthen management and ensure cyberspace order.

The move has received support from netizens with many calling for a clean internet environment.

"Instead of disclosing accurate information, online rumors just triggered panic. Netizens should not spread rumors and be responsible for his speech," a netizen "weikeya" commented on his Sina Weibo on Monday.

The campaign to clamp down on online rumor mongers has been ongoing since August 2013.

As the latest move in August, China set up a nationwide taskforce of cyber police tasked with Internet inspection to sniff out illegal and harmful information on the Internet, prevent cyber crimes and improper words and deeds online, as well as publish case reports and handle tip-offs.

  [By Global Times – Xinhua Source:Global Times]
1/6/15
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