State Internet Information Office Deploys Attack on Activities of Fabricating and Disseminating Rumours Online

Original SIIO documents in relation to this campaign have not been made public. This is a Xinhua press release from 2 May. The journalist understood from the State Internet Information Office on the 2nd that the State Internet Information Office is deploying a concentrated attack on activities of fabricating rumours on the Internet and wilful dissemination of rumours, on a nationwide level, recently, a certain Guizhou person named Li, as well as many other persons using the Internet to fabricate and disseminate rumours were investigated and prosecuted, a batch of microblog accounts fabricating and disseminating rumours were closed, and Public Security organs have imposed public order detention and other punishments. The journalist understands that the Guizhou persons named Li and Gong have used their Sina Weibo accounts to fabricate and disseminate rumours of chicken flu occurring in Guiyang to attract eyeballs, this created a harmful influence, and public security organs imposed the punishments of 5 days of administrative detention on Li, and 10 days of administrative detention on Gong, according to the law. The State Internet Information Office has closed 20 microblog accounts of Li, Gong and 20 other persons. The State Internet Information Office Network News Coordination Bureau’s responsible person indicates that the situation that an extremely small number of netizens spread around all sorts of rumours online occurs all the time, some create picture montages to defame others, and some so-called “Big V” accounts wilfully spread rumours as “seeking to refute rumours” and “seeking confirmation”, causing me-tooism in a number of netizens who are unaware of the truth, harming the credibility of network media, and disordering regular dissemination order, the social public detests this sort of phenomenon. Internet information content controlling departments have continuously given high regard to this phenomenon, and at the same time as strengthening daily law enforcement, are currently conducting a concentrated attack. Relevant responsible persons stress that using the Internet to fabricate and disseminate rumours is an unlawful act, and our country has many laws that contain provisions for the punishment of online rumours. Our country’s criminal law contains criminal provisions concerning inciting subversion of the State regime through fabricating rumours and other forms, fabricating and disseminating false information that may influence securities trading, concocting and disseminating false facts harming other persons’ commercial reputation and the reputation of products, fabricating terror information and other acts. The State Internet Information Office is currently conducting a deep investigation of a number of websites, microblog and WeChat accounts that regularly disseminate untrue information, on the basis of netizen reports and clues obtained in daily work, together with all localities’ Internet information content controlling departments, and investigate the liability of corresponding persons according to the law, jointly with public security organs. Relevant responsible persons also stress that curbing and attacking online rumours requires joint efforts from all sides. The State Internet Information Office will further investigate and prosecute websites breaking laws and regulations through not implementing statutory responsibilities, causing in dissemination of rumours and creation of horrible influence. Timely reporting of rumours by the social public is welcomed, awards will be granted to successful reports. We must maintain a state of high pressure on network rumours throughout, realistically safeguard the dignity of the law, and safeguard a regular and orderly network environment.   国家互联网信息办部署打击网络造谣传播谣言行为 新华社北京５月２日电 记者２日从国家互联网信息办了解到，国家互联网信息办正在全国范围内集中部署打击利用互联网造谣和故意传播谣言行为，近日已查处贵州李某等多名利用互联网制造和故意传播谣言人员，关闭了一批造谣传谣的微博客账号，公安机关对相关人员处以了治安拘留等处罚。 记者了解到，贵州网民李某和龚某为了吸引眼球，利用其新浪微博客账号制造传播贵阳发生禽流感的谣言，造成不良社会影响，公安机关依法给予李某行政拘留５日、龚某行政拘留１０日的处罚。国家互联网信息办依法依规关闭了李某、龚某等人的２０多个微博客账号。 国家互联网信息办网络新闻协调局有关负责人介绍，极少数网民在网上散布各类谣言的情况不时出现，有的拼接图片诽谤他人，还有一些所谓“大Ｖ”账号以“求辟谣”、“求证”等方式故意扩散谣言，让一些不明真相的网民跟风，损害了网络媒体的公信力，扰乱了正常传播秩序，社会公众对这种现象深恶痛绝。互联网信息内容主管部门对这一现象一直予以高度关注，在加强日常执法的同时，正进行集中打击。 有关负责人强调，利用互联网造谣传谣是违法行为，我国有多部法律对惩治网络谣言作出规定。我国刑法对以造谣等方式煽动颠覆国家政权、编造并且传播影响证券交易的虚假信息、捏造并散布损害他人商业信誉和商品声誉的虚伪事实、编造恐怖信息等行为作出有罪规定。国家互联网信息办正根据网民的举报和日常工作中掌握的线索，会同各地互联网信息内容主管部门对一些经常传播不实信息的网站和微博客账号、微信账号进行深入核查，将会同公安机关依法追究相关人员的责任。 有关负责人还强调，遏制和打击网络谣言，需要各方面的共同努力。国家互联网信息办将进一步查处不落实法定责任，致使谣言传播，造成恶劣影响的违法违规网站。欢迎社会公众及时举报谣言，对举报有功者予以奖励。将始终对网络谣言保持高压态势，切实维护法律尊严，维护正常有序的网络环境。