Sichuan Provincial Public Security Department held a press conference on September 17, revealing that public security network security departments across the province have conducted special operations targeting online crime and chaos this year. The authorities have been working to purify the online ecosystem through a series of coordinated efforts.
As of now, police have solved a total of 1,467 cases and apprehended 4,349 criminal suspects. These efforts are part of broader campaigns designed to crack down on illegal activities and restore order in the digital space.
A major focus has been on combating online rumor-mongering. Authorities have targeted the use of AI-generated fake information, staged sympathy videos, and rumors fabricated around economic and livelihood issues, implementing precise strikes and systematic management. In Chengdu, cybersecurity police successfully solved a case involving a million-follower influencer who staged a "blinded by centipede bite" video, resulting in administrative penalties for two individuals, sending a strong warning to potential rumor spreaders.
Police have also intensified efforts against online violence, focusing on new tactics like "doxing" and "human flesh searches." The strategy involves disrupting the entire chain of operations, including instigation and malicious dissemination. In Ziyang, Nanchong, and Leshan, authorities launched three nationwide collaborative operations against doxing, leading to administrative penalties for six people and educational talks for 32 others.
In the entertainment sector, crackdowns have targeted fan circle chaos, including the leaking and trafficking of celebrity personal information, defamation, and the hiring of paid internet trolls. In Leshan, police investigated a case involving the sale of a celebrity's identity and tracking information, taking criminal compulsory measures against four individuals, imposing administrative penalties on two, and providing education to 299 people.
Significant resources have been directed at hacking crimes threatening public order, tax security, and data safety. Investigators have been tracing and eliminating the sources of hacker tools, pushing for systematic governance. In Mianyang, police dismantled a criminal gang that posed as bank staff to install trojan apps on victims' phones, remotely controlling 826 devices and stealing over 3 million yuan. Eight suspects were arrested.
Protecting citizens' personal information has been another priority, especially for vulnerable groups like students, the elderly, unemployed youth, and the seriously ill. Police have intensified actions against those who fail to protect personal data. In Neijiang, cybersecurity officers dismantled a gang that decrypted e-commerce platform order data to illegally obtain phone numbers and addresses, seizing over 2 million pieces of personal information and arresting five suspects.
Finally, authorities have been disrupting the black and gray industry chains online, striking at key nodes such as material supply, technical support, advertising promotion, and payment settlement. In Nanchong, police dismantled a criminal group using virtual currency, WeChat, and Alipay for online gambling and illegal fund settlement, leading to the arrest of 17 suspects.