Arrests, warnings as China targets rumormongering

Source: Xinhua | August 9, 2014, Saturday |

Online Edition

Chinese police have arrested four people on suspicion of fabricating and spreading rumors on the Internet as authorities tighten regulation of instant messaging services.

The four people may face defamation charges, which under Chinese law are levelled against those whose posts are deemed to be rumors and are viewed by more than 5,000 users or retweeted more than 500 times.

Defamation charges can lead to up to three years in prison or loss of political rights.

Police have also detained or warned another 81 people for similar but slighter offences, they said on Saturday, without detailing when any of these actions were taken. Meanwhile, 16 websites have also been punished for "weak safety management."

These people used social network services to fabricate and spread rumors, or forward rumors published on foreign websites, according to police. The reports included predictions of an earthquake in Beijing within two to six days and gunshots having been heard in the west of the Chinese capital.

China has required users of instant messaging services to use their real names when registering since Thursday, in an effort to hold users responsible for content they send out.

Nation

About Us
|
Terms of Use
|
RSS
|
Privacy Policy
|
Contact Us
|
Shanghai Call Center: 962288
|
Tip-off hotline: 52920043

沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
|
互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
|
网络视听许可证：0909346
|
广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
|
增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012

Arrests, warnings as China targets rumormongering

Email this to your friend