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Xuzhou shuts down 'human flesh search engine'
By Li Xinran |
January 20, 2009, Tuesday
|
Online Edition
Online Edition
LEGISLATORS passed a bill banning the so-called "human flesh search engine," in Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, sparking a nationwide controversy over an individual's right to privacy versus the public's right to know, state media reported today including Shanghai-based Oriental Morning Post.
The new rule on is expected to take effect on June 1 and individual violators in the city face a fine up to 5,000 yuan (US$725).
The country's first local regulation on the issue prohibits the online community from offering, releasing or spreading the personal information of others via the Internet. It caused controversy as some said the rule may help protect corrupt officials from being discovered and put a lid on public opinion and supervision.
Several officials were sacked or punished due to misbehavior or wrong doing that was exposed online. A housing department director in Nanjing City, capital of Jiangsu Province, was sacked recently after some anonymous individuals posted photos about his luxurious lifestyle on several major Web portals. The photos included the official smoking a brand of cigarettes costing at least 1,500 yuan (US$221) per carton and wearing a Vacheron Constantin watch.
Xuzhou authorities said yesterday that they still support people in their efforts to expose corrupt officials and that the rule is to protect common people's privacy and personal information.
About a month ago, a man won a lawsuit after he was besieged by online criticism after his wife committed suicide because he was having an affair. He was awarded 8,000 yuan (US$1,170) in compensation for damage to his reputation.
The case was the country's first lawsuit triggered by the so-called "human flesh search engine." The term refers to the way people track down details about people they have read about on the Internet and then publish their private information online so that others can harass them.
China has about 253 million Internet users.
The new rule on is expected to take effect on June 1 and individual violators in the city face a fine up to 5,000 yuan (US$725).
The country's first local regulation on the issue prohibits the online community from offering, releasing or spreading the personal information of others via the Internet. It caused controversy as some said the rule may help protect corrupt officials from being discovered and put a lid on public opinion and supervision.
Several officials were sacked or punished due to misbehavior or wrong doing that was exposed online. A housing department director in Nanjing City, capital of Jiangsu Province, was sacked recently after some anonymous individuals posted photos about his luxurious lifestyle on several major Web portals. The photos included the official smoking a brand of cigarettes costing at least 1,500 yuan (US$221) per carton and wearing a Vacheron Constantin watch.
Xuzhou authorities said yesterday that they still support people in their efforts to expose corrupt officials and that the rule is to protect common people's privacy and personal information.
About a month ago, a man won a lawsuit after he was besieged by online criticism after his wife committed suicide because he was having an affair. He was awarded 8,000 yuan (US$1,170) in compensation for damage to his reputation.
The case was the country's first lawsuit triggered by the so-called "human flesh search engine." The term refers to the way people track down details about people they have read about on the Internet and then publish their private information online so that others can harass them.
China has about 253 million Internet users.
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