Authorities in Hangzhou have taken action against a local influencer, Ms Xu Jiayi, also known as “Thurman Maoyibei”, for spreading false information and disturbing public order in a viral social media video. Ms Xu’s accounts on various social media platforms have been suspended, and she faces administrative penalties, although the details of these penalties are not clear. The Ministry of Public Security named her case as one of 10 examples of misinformation as part of a crackdown on online rumors and false information beginning in December 2023.
In February, Ms Xu posted a video on social media showing herself in a Paris restaurant attempting to locate the owner of two school books found by a waiter. She appealed to her 40 million followers to help find the owner, a schoolboy named “Qin Lang”. The video quickly went viral and became a trending topic on Chinese social media platforms during the 2024 Spring Festival holiday. However, a netizen later claimed to be “Qin Lang’s uncle”, sparking rumors and a widespread search for the boy.
Investigations by authorities revealed that Ms Xu had fabricated the entire story. She and her company director, known as “Xue”, had purchased fake workbooks online and staged videos for social media. The Ministry of Public Security issued penalties against Ms Xu, Xue, and their companies, ordering them to publicly apologize and banning their accounts. The netizen claiming to be “Qin Lang’s uncle” also faced penalties and had his account banned. Several of Thurman’s social media accounts, including Weibo, BiliBili, and WeChat, were taken down as a result of the incident.
The case of Ms Xu is part of a larger crackdown on the spread of online rumors and false information in China. The Ministry of Public Security has been actively targeting individuals and companies who engage in spreading misinformation, with penalties imposed on those found guilty. The incident highlights the challenges posed by social media influencers who use their platforms to disseminate false information and manipulate public sentiment for personal gain.
The involvement of multiple parties, including Ms Xu, her company director, and the netizen claiming to be “Qin Lang’s uncle”, demonstrates the potential impact of online misinformation and the rapid spread of false narratives on social media platforms. The incident has led to increased scrutiny of influencers and their content, with authorities taking decisive action to address the issue and hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
Moving forward, it is crucial for social media platforms, authorities, and the public to remain vigilant against the spread of false information online. By working together to identify and address instances of misinformation, it is possible to maintain the integrity of online discourse and protect individuals from falling victim to fabricated stories and deceptive practices. Authorities in China are taking a proactive approach to combating online rumors and falsehoods, sending a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated and will be met with consequences.
