Online rumors targeted in crackdown on cybercrime

Chinese police have investigated more than 36,000 cybercrime cases so far this year as part of a nationwide crackdown on online offenses that have sparked widespread public concern, the Ministry of Public Security said on Thursday.

This year's China Cybersecurity Week runs from Sept 14 to 20. According to the ministry, cybersecurity departments nationwide have focused on dismantling criminal chains, tackling groups of similar cases and strengthening online governance, while coordinating with industry regulators through the national cyber and information security reporting mechanism.

Online rumors have been a major target of the crackdown. Police have solved more than 11,000 cases involving fabricated information, manipulated content and AI-generated rumors related to accidents and disasters, the economy and people's livelihoods, the ministry said.

Authorities have also investigated organizations behind such content, including multi-channel networks and paid online commentators. At the same time, they have urged platforms to improve algorithm governance and explored technologies to monitor AI-generated content.

More than 4,100 cases involving the theft, sale or illegal disclosure of personal information have been solved, including cases involving the illicit acquisition of personal records and "doxxing" — publicly revealing someone's private information with the intention of harassing them.

Police have also intensified efforts against online violence, solving more than 2,500 cases involving doxxing, insults, defamation and repeated harassment through phone calls and text messages. Internet platforms have also been urged to strengthen content review and early-warning measures.

In April, a sports training center in Guangdong province and a center under the General Administration of Sport of China said an athlete had been subjected to online abuse and reported the case to police. Guangdong police later found that an internet user surnamed Xu, a fan of another athlete, had posted insulting remarks targeting the athlete and the athlete's supporters in an effort to "defend" the favored athlete. Xu was given an administrative penalty.

More than 190 cases involving organized online manipulation have been solved, covering activities such as manufacturing topics, exploiting trending issues, paid deletion of negative content, artificially boosting traffic and manipulating comments.

In one series of cases in Zhejiang, Guangdong and Fujian provinces, four criminal groups allegedly used cultural communication companies as fronts and influential social media accounts to publish negative content about newly released films, television programs and variety shows before demanding payments. Twenty-four suspects have been arrested, including seven major suspects who were placed under criminal coercive measures. The cases remain under further investigation.

More than 3,900 hacking cases have also been investigated, with police focusing on activities that threaten public order, market and tax security, data security, ecological and environmental security, as well as production and transportation safety.

Authorities have also targeted the use of fake official websites and apps for fraudulent certification, fake documents, online fraud and the theft of personal information, with more than 250 counterfeit websites blocked or shut down. Police have additionally investigated more than 150 cases involving online channels used to redirect users to pornography, gambling, fraud and other illegal activities.

Alongside the cybercrime crackdown, police have intensified an annual operation focused on cybersecurity, data security and information security. Working with industry authorities, they have carried out inspections targeting the illegal collection and use of personal information by apps and inadequate data protection measures in key sectors.

More than 7,900 cybersecurity and data security inspections have been conducted this year, uncovering and rectifying 38,000 security risks and vulnerabilities.

yangzekun@chinadaily.com.cn