Judicial move aims at online rumors

Detentions over false info

Qin Zhihui, better known by his online name of Qin Huohuo, was arrested by Beijing police in August for fabricating rumors on the Internet, thus harming others' reputations. He is accused of the crime of provoking trouble.

Qin, 30, said on his micro blog that the government had paid 200 million yuan ($32.7 million) in compensation to a foreign passenger after two trains collided in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, on July 23, 2011, which was later proved to be fake information, police said.

Yang Xiuyu, whose online persona is Lier Chaisi, was also detained by Beijing police in August for spreading fake information and is being held on suspicion of running an illegal business.

Yang, founder of the Erma Co, allegedly spread rumors to attract followers and "helped" others to delete posts in return for money.

Liu Hu, a journalist working for Xinkuaibao, a newspaper in Guangdong province, was also detained by Beijing police in August for fabrication and dissemination of rumors online. He is being held on suspicion of provoking trouble.

Zhou Lubao, from Gansu province, was arrested in August for extortion linked to spreading online rumors, with police in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, alleging he posted more than 15,000 items of fake information last year and blackmailed more than 20 departments and individuals.

Fu Xuesheng, 47, president of Shanghai LabInfo Technologies Ltd, was arrested by Shanghai police in August for making up online rumors that a female executive at State-owned oil giant Sinopec accepted sexual favors as a bribe from a foreign supplier.

Police did not specify what crime Fu was allegedly involved in.

— Cao Yin

At a glance

Activities that can lead to a charge of libel:

• Spreading defamatory information online that is viewed more than 5,000 times or forwarded more than 500 times

• Spreading fake information that results in a mental illness or the self-harming or suicide of victims or their family members

• Re-offending within two years

Maximum sentence: Three years in prison.

Activities that can

lead to a charge

of provocation:

• Threatening others by using false online information that results in serious public disorder

• Organizing others to spread fake information that results in serious public disorder

Maximum sentence:

10 years in prison

Activities that can lead to a blackmail charge:

• Threatening others with the purpose of obtaining large amounts of money or property through posting or deleting online information, or repeated offenses

Maximum sentence:

15 years in prison

Source: Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate

CHINA DAILY