Netizens may not abuse others online

After claiming in a micro blog that his colleague He Jiong, a famous television host, was on the payroll of Beijing Foreign Studies University but not teaching a lesson, Qiao Mu, an associate professor at the university has been verbally abused and harassed by netizens who claim to be "fans" of the TV host. Qiao's personal information, including his cellphone number and photos of his daughter, have also been exposed online. The TV host refuted the freeloading allegations and resigned later with the approval of the university. Comments:

The openness in cyberspace does not mean regulations no longer apply. Such being said, netizens cannot say anything they want, even though their right to speak should be respected. They are obliged to follow the relevant rules and national laws. Virtual as it is, cyberspace is never someone's "private land" but an online community of shared ethics and restrictions, where all netizens should communicate in a rational manner.

People's Daily, May 26