Top procuratorate targets online defamation and privacy violations

A total of 20 individuals were prosecuted for online insults and defamation, while another 1,569 were prosecuted for crimes of provocation and troublemaking via the internet, the Supreme People's Procuratorate announced Thursday.

Hou Yahui, head of the SPP's First Procuratorial Department, said illegal online activities, including insults, defamation, rumors, and privacy violations, have escalated in recent years. These offenses severely infringe on personal rights and disrupt social and online order.

"Unlike traditional crimes, online abuse spreads rapidly, causing significant social harm that is difficult to reverse," Hou said. Victims often endure extreme mental distress under intense public scrutiny and face challenges in gathering evidence and seeking legal redress.

Public demand for stricter punishments for online violence is growing, Hou added. In response, the SPP has increased efforts to strengthen legal governance of cyberspace and bolster judicial protections for personal information.

From June 2023 to June 2024, national prosecutorial authorities filed 1,772 cases involving 3,768 individuals for crimes related to infringing on citizens' personal information via the internet.

For serious cases of online insults and defamation that threaten social order or national interests, criminal charges may be applied. Hou noted that a document jointly issued last year by the SPP, the Supreme People's Court, and the Ministry of Public Security outlines standards for public prosecution in such cases.

In April, the SPP increased cooperation across departments to enforce violations involving personal information, including illegal activities like obtaining, selling, or leaking personal data; defaming or insulting individuals online; and using online violence for marketing purposes. Platforms that fail to fulfill network security management responsibilities, or encourage online violence to boost traffic, will also face prosecution.

The SPP will guide local authorities in handling major cases of online violence, strengthen oversight, and advance public interest litigation to enhance cyberspace governance, Hou said. Research is also underway to develop judicial rules for assessing, repairing, and preventing public interest damage in cyberspace.