A recent online survey has highlighted the growing concern among Chinese youth regarding cyberbullying and its impact on social order and individual rights. The survey, conducted among 1,000 participants born between 1980 and the generation after the 2000s, revealed that nearly 90 percent of respondents expected public prosecution to be initiated against severe online abuse. Many also called for police assistance in collecting evidence to support victims.
The survey identified the top four obstacles faced by ordinary people in protecting their rights against cyberbullying. These included difficulties in identifying cyberbullies due to online anonymity (69.6 percent), high time and financial costs (64.2 percent), challenges in collecting evidence (55.3 percent), and the process of filing a case and initiating legal procedures (52.7 percent).
To address these challenges, 88.1 percent of participants advocated for public prosecution of more severe cases of cyber violence, as the current system relies on private prosecution where victims are required to collect evidence themselves, often a daunting task. Additionally, 68.1 percent of respondents expected the police to provide assistance in situations where evidence collection is difficult, while 66.1 percent called for enhanced supervision to ensure timely filing of cases.
The survey was conducted by China Youth Daily following the release of a draft guideline to combat cyber violence. The draft, jointly issued by China’s top court, top prosecutor’s office, and the Ministry of Public Security, sought public opinion until June 25. It outlined the behaviors, societal harm, and legal remedies related to online violence, proposing targeted solutions to address challenges in filing cases, gathering evidence, and initiating public prosecutions. These recommendations align with the appeals made by the survey participants.
Li Xiaoman, an associate professor at the School of Journalism and Communication at Wuhan University, noted that the draft guideline addressed the protection of vulnerable groups, such as minors and disabled individuals, emphasized the responsibilities of online platforms, and clarified definitions and legal remedies regarding cyber violence.
The draft categorized cyber violence behaviors, including the spread of rumors, online insults, infringement of personal information, offline harassment, as well as derivative acts like malicious marketing and sensationalism. It called for heavier punishment for misconduct targeting minors or disabled individuals, employing “internet water army” tactics, fabricating “sex-related” topics, and using “deepfake” technology to spread illegal information. The severity of cyber violence behaviors could potentially lead to punishment under criminal law, as outlined in the draft.
While the draft currently serves as a judicial interpretation, experts suggest that a formal anti-cyber violence law may be enacted in the future, providing more specific and comprehensive definitions to effectively combat illegal acts that undermine public sense of security. Zhu Wei, vice director of the Communication Law Research Center at the China University of Political Science and Law, emphasized the need for monitoring online platforms where rumors and insults originate, as well as strengthening management of zombie and promotional accounts through measures like real-name registration and penalties for violating trust.
Recent tragic incidents caused by online attacks, such as the case of a mother in Wuhan who faced online trolls after the death of her son and subsequently jumped off a building, have ignited heated discussions about online abuse on Chinese social media. Internet platforms have taken action against accounts that engage in derogatory behavior.