Live streaming of law enforcement has pros and cons

THE TRAFFIC POLICE in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, recently set a precedent by live streaming the detention of five drivers on suspicion of drunken driving, which attracted more than 70,000 online viewers across the country. Beijing News commented on Saturday:

It is no secret that live streaming has become popular, and presenting police enforcement of law to online audiences is a relatively new development in the country.

In Qingdao's case, the streaming was "liked" by over 35,000 viewers. Last year some local urban patrol officers in Zhengzhou, Central China's Henan province, also live streamed their law enforcement efforts and received some 20,000 "likes" from netizens during half a day.