In a significant move reflecting China’s growing concern over online misconduct, popular social media platforms WeChat and Kuaishou have removed the micro-drama series “Go Queen Go.” This action was taken due to the series’ portrayal of extreme revenge tactics and a distorted moral perspective, which were deemed as contributing to negative value orientations.
This decision is part of a broader crackdown on non-compliant and low-quality content by major short-video platforms in China, including Douyin, the domestic version of TikTok. These measures align with the country’s increasing efforts to regulate online content and behavior.
On Friday, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the nation’s chief cyberspace regulator, launched a month-long nationwide campaign to clean up online content. This initiative focuses on seven key areas, among which are combating the phenomenon of “human flesh search” or doxing, addressing malicious defamation in social events, and curbing the instigation of extreme emotions online.
The term “human flesh search” refers to the illegal practice of using hacking tools to gather comprehensive personal information, including but not limited to ID numbers, social security numbers, bank account details, and personal identification photos of an individual and their family.
Simultaneously, domestic video platform Bilibili revealed a significant “human flesh search” case. The platform reported multiple content creators being targeted by an organized group operating on foreign platforms. This group systematically incited users to conduct doxing against these creators within the Bilibili community, leading to a series of illegal activities such as harassment, online bullying attacks, and baseless malicious reports.
The extensive nature of this case, spanning 18 provinces and cities and involving over 40 individuals, highlights the severity of online misconduct. The key perpetrators, identified as minors with the surname initials of L and C, faced different consequences. L received a 10-day administrative detention and a permanent record of the violation in his personal file, while C was subjected to stern criticism and education by law enforcement authorities.
Fan Xiaoling, a Beijing-based lawyer, emphasized the legal implications of such behavior, stating that disclosing citizens’ personal information through internet platforms constitutes the illegal provision of personal information. If the quantity of information provided or disclosed meets the criteria for initiating criminal proceedings, individuals can be criminally responsible for infringing on personal information.
Fan further added that establishing websites or communication groups for engaging in illegal activities such as acquiring, selling, or providing personal information of citizens, under severe circumstances, also violates the Criminal Law. Individuals involved in such cases can be convicted and punished for the illegal use of information networks.
The Bilibili case has generated widespread attention on China’s Sina Weibo, with the hashtag “Bilibili discloses human flesh search case” attracting 380 million views and over 7,500 comments. Many Weibo users have praised Bilibili’s actions, advocating for zero tolerance toward such behavior and emphasizing that being a minor is not an excuse for illegal activities.
This case has also brought to light several incidents involving celebrities like Zhang Xinyu, Zhao Lusi, Wang Yibo, and others who have been victims of doxing, with personal details like ID cards and phone numbers being exposed. Chinese host Yang Di also shared a similar experience on Weibo, leading to harassment and the need to change his phone number.
In response to the growing issue of online violence, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, and the Ministry of Public Security jointly issued guidance in September. This guidance underscores the legal consequences for the illegal collection and dissemination of citizens’ personal information, further reinforcing the nation’s commitment to upholding digital security and privacy.
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