China Cracks Down on Online Rumors, Arrests Over 25,000 Individuals This Year
BEIJING – The Chinese Ministry of PublicSecurity (MPS) has announced a significant crackdown on online rumors, reporting the arrest of over 25,000 individuals and the closure of over160,000 illegal accounts in the first eight months of 2024. This aggressive campaign reflects the Chinese government’s ongoing effortsto control online narratives and maintain social stability.
According to a statement released during a press conference on August 27th, the MPS has investigated over 22,000 cases involving online rumors and taken legal action against thoseresponsible for spreading false information. The ministry has also been actively targeting water armies and MCN (Multi-Channel Network) agencies that manipulate online discourse for financial gain.
We have investigated 623 cases involving thesegroups and arrested 3,397 individuals, said Wang Qiang, Director of the MPS Traffic Management Bureau. These individuals are often hired to spread propaganda or attack individuals and organizations online.
The MPS has also been proactive in educating the public about the dangers of online rumors and promoting responsible online behavior. Theministry has published over 3,600 case studies highlighting the consequences of spreading false information and has conducted numerous public awareness campaigns.
We believe that education is key to combating online rumors, said Wang. By raising awareness about the potential harm of spreading false information, we can encourage individuals to be more criticalof the information they encounter online.
In addition to these efforts, the MPS has been working with online platforms to improve their content moderation practices and identify potential sources of false information. The ministry has investigated 1,036 platforms and conducted individual meetings with key websites to discuss necessary improvements.
This crackdown comesas China faces increasing challenges in managing online content. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has made it easier for individuals to generate and spread false information, posing a significant threat to public discourse.
In response to this challenge, the Supreme People’s Court, Supreme People’s Procuratorate, and theMPS jointly issued guidelines in 2023 that specifically address the use of AI in spreading false information. These guidelines state that individuals who use deep synthesis technology to generate and disseminate illegal content will face harsher penalties.
The MPS’s efforts to combat online rumors are part of a broader strategy to controlinformation flow and maintain social stability in China. The government has long been concerned about the potential for online content to challenge its authority and disrupt social order.
While the MPS’s crackdown has been successful in reducing the spread of some false information, critics argue that the government’s efforts are overly broad and stifle freespeech. They point to instances where individuals have been arrested for sharing information that is critical of the government or its policies, even if it is not demonstrably false.
The ongoing battle against online rumors in China highlights the complex relationship between technology, free speech, and government control. As AI technology continues to advance, thechallenge of managing online information will only become more difficult.
【source】https://www.ithome.com/0/791/419.htm
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