China targets online crime, 'soft violence'

Chinese judicial authorities are stepping up efforts to combat organized crime, pledging to fully perform their supervisory and adjudication duties to maintain social stability and ensure public safety.

The Supreme People's Procuratorate, China's top procuratorate, announced on Tuesday that prosecutors nationwide have charged 900 people with organized crime offenses since a special campaign began in July.

The campaign specifically targets crimes committed through online platforms and "soft violence", including extortion through nude chats, illegal lending, unlawful debt collection, public opinion-based blackmail, false compensation claims and forced consumption, the SPP said.

Prosecutors nationwide have also been instructed to focus on crimes such as stalking, harassment, intimidation, threats and blackmail, it said.

Over the past two months, prosecutors have charged 25 people with illegal debt collection, 19 with nude chat extortion and eight with public opinion-based blackmail. Seven judicial personnel suspected of misconduct related to such cases are also under investigation, according to the SPP.

The investigations demonstrate the authorities' firm stance on eliminating any protective networks within the judicial system, it said.

Courts are also stepping up efforts to maintain social stability through their rulings. By the end of last month, 163 people involved in 12 criminal groups had been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 months to life for organized crime offenses, according to the Supreme People's Court, China's top court.

The cases involved groups exploiting online platforms and using psychological tactics to conduct illegal lending, debt collection and labor-related scams, as well as groups exploiting children.

In one case, a gang leader surnamed Li was sentenced to nearly five years in prison for using high-interest loans and threats to force victims to repay debts, causing them injuries and financial losses.

In another case in Rizhao, Shandong province, a gang led by an individual surnamed Ma infiltrated construction sites through job-hunting platforms and extorted more than 200,000 yuan ($29,758) by instigating conflicts and making threats. Ma was sentenced to six years in prison.

The top court has called on courts at all levels to continue targeting organized crime in key industries and regions, with a focus on activities that provoke public anger and threaten social order and safety.

Chen Kai, a criminal lawyer at the Nanjing office of Gaopeng &Partners, said organized crime has evolved beyond traditional forms of violence to include online debt collection and cyber blackmail.

"These groups manipulate public opinion as a weapon, threatening to release damaging information unless paid off," Chen said in the law firm's official WeChat account. "Such actions can lead to multiple charges, including extortion and public disturbance, and are a primary target of the current crackdown."

According to Chen, a typical scheme involves gang members digging up damaging information about an enterprise or individuals associated with it and then demanding payment in exchange for keeping the information confidential. If the ransom is not paid, they release the materials online.

Chen emphasized the importance of evidence in handling such cases, highlighting the need to clearly distinguish criminal conduct from lawful conduct, as well as ordinary crimes from organized crime.

"By applying legal principles and thinking, accuracy and fairness in handling these cases can be ensured, which is crucial in the fight against organized crime," he said.