　　The National Internet Information Office, the Ministry of Public Security and other departments have jointly rectified online rumors, which have received widespread attention and received support from all walks of life and achieved remarkable results. At the same time, the public is also concerned about some problems in the rectification of online rumors, such as how to define online rumors. Is "Xue Manzi" arrested because it is a "big V"? Are you sentenced for "forwarding rumor information 500 times" or more? What responsibility should the website bear in managing network rumors? Wait a minute. With these questions, Xinhua News Agency interviewed the person in charge of the Network News Coordination Bureau of the State Internet Information Office.

　　Reporter: There has been a lot of news about rectifying network rumors recently. Can you tell us something about it?

　　A: For some time, many departments have jointly taken measures to rectify network rumors, standardize network order and purify the network environment, and achieved initial results.

　　The State Internet Information Office firmly supports the public security organs in cracking down on illegal and criminal activities on the Internet in accordance with the law, and supports the organized creation and dissemination of rumors on the Internet in accordance with the law. Recently, many people who used the Internet to create and deliberately spread rumors were investigated and punished. Some of them deliberately spread rumors and spread rumors in order to achieve personal goals and illegally gain economic benefits. For example, Qin Zhihui ("Qin Huohuo") and Yang Xiuyu ("Li Er Si Si") organized and planned to spread rumors and deliberately speculate on online events through Weibo, post bars and forums, so as to make profits and were detained by the public security organs. There are more than 3,000 rumors created and spread by Qin Huohuo. Some extort money by publishing false information. For example, Zhou Lubao, who was arrested, published more than 15,000 posts attacking and slandering relevant units and individuals on the Internet, and extorted money from more than 20 units and individuals. Others deliberately spread rumors and slander others to vent their personal anger. For example, Fu Xuesheng was detained for fabricating and spreading slanderous rumors such as "African Cowherd Gate".

　　Some people have been investigated for illegal crimes, or they may have a great influence on the Internet. Some public opinion has avoided their illegal and criminal acts, only emphasizing that they are "big V" or online celebrities, and even making rumors that they are "convicted for their words", which is misleading. For example, "Xue Manzi" was investigated and dealt with according to law because of whoring, gathering people for fornication and being suspected of other illegal and criminal acts, which has nothing to do with his "big V" status.

　　Reporter: What are online rumors? How to distinguish between deliberate rumors and unintentional rumors? Does "rumors force the truth" make sense?

　　A: Rumors refer to false information that deliberately fabricates facts and causes harm to society and others. The so-called network rumors usually refer to rumors spread by information networks. Indeed, some netizens spread rumors unintentionally and need to distinguish them, but the characteristics of intentional rumors are obvious. Some have been proved to be false information, and they are still repeatedly spread and hyped; Some of them are even processed and exaggerated in communication, causing serious harm to others or society.

　　The statement that "rumors force the truth" is actually an excuse for spreading rumors. Rumor and truth are two different things, and right and wrong cannot be separated. "Rumors stop with the wise" can’t be a reason to tolerate rumors, because we can’t assume that everyone is a "wise man" and allow rumors to spread.

　　Reporter: Is it necessary to be criminally prosecuted for rumors?

　　A: It is common sense to speak responsibly online. It is beyond reproach to spread rumors and slander and hurt others or society, and of course you have to bear the responsibility. For those who do not intentionally spread false information, criticism and education should be given priority. The Supreme People’s Court’s spokesman once pointed out that even if some of the contents of the report and exposure are untrue, as long as they are not deliberately fabricated facts to slander others, or are not spread on the Internet knowing that they are fabricated facts that damage others’ reputation, criminal responsibility should not be investigated for libel.

　　Reporter: The "two highs" issued relevant judicial interpretations. Some people say that rumors can be sentenced if they are forwarded 500 times and viewed 5000 times. Is this accurate?

　　A: the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate issued the Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Laws in Handling Criminal Cases of Defamation by Using Information Networks, which is the practical need to crack down on related crimes by using information networks according to law, the need to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the people, the need to maintain social public order, and the embodiment of the pipe network according to law.

　　For the quantitative standards of 5000 times and 500 times, some media have a biased interpretation. The judicial interpretation clearly stipulates that "if the information network is used to slander others, and the same defamatory information is actually clicked, viewed more than 5,000 times, or forwarded more than 500 times, it can be considered as’ serious circumstances’ as stipulated in the first paragraph of Article 246 of the Criminal Law, which can constitute the crime of defamation". Obviously, according to this provision, the object that is forwarded 500 times is specific libel information, not other information.

　　Reporter: Some netizens say that the suppression of online rumors is to suppress speech. What do you think?

　　A: This is a wrong view. Combating online rumors is conducive to protecting legitimate freedom of speech. Our cyberspace cannot be a rumor space. Letting rumors spread is tantamount to self-destruction of the network. No country in the world allows rumors to spread.

　　Freedom and order are dialectical relations. Any individual’s freedom must be exercised within the scope of the law, and it must not be lawless. It must be based on the premise of not interfering with the freedom of others, and freedom should not be based on the suffering of others.

　　Netizens come from the people, and netizens are also people. When netizens go online, public opinion goes online. Party committees and governments at all levels have always regarded the Internet as a bridge and link between the people, paid full attention to and guaranteed the people to make constructive remarks, and deeply understood and responded to public opinions on the Internet in a timely manner. It is obvious to all that the majority of netizens express their opinions and suggestions through the Internet and effectively exercise their right to know, participate, express and supervise.

　　Reporter: There is a saying that the website only provides a platform and should not be responsible for illegal activities such as network rumors and slanders. Is this correct?

　　A: Of course not. The law clearly stipulates that if a network service provider knows that a network user uses its network service to infringe upon the civil rights and interests of others and fails to take necessary measures, it shall be jointly and severally liable with the network user. As an information platform, the website should improve the information security mechanism, reduce the probability of spreading rumor information and prevent the spread of network rumor information in time. Websites that fail to fulfill their responsibilities will also be investigated.

　　Recently, Beijing Netcom Office directed six websites, including Qianlong. com, Sina and Sohu, to launch a joint "rumor platform" to strengthen website self-discipline and timely release rumor information, which played a very good role.

　　Reporter: In order to purify the network environment, what is the focus of the next step?

　　A: In recent months, we have advocated that websites and netizens should abide by the "seven bottom lines", such as the bottom line of laws and regulations, the bottom line of socialist system, the bottom line of national interests, the bottom line of citizens’ legitimate rights and interests, the bottom line of social public order, the bottom line of moral fashion and the bottom line of information authenticity, and won strong resonance and broad support from all walks of life. We have implemented the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC)’s "Decision on Strengthening the Protection of Network Information" and concentrated on cleaning up three types of information involving citizens’ personal privacy and reputation rights; In conjunction with the National Office for Combating Pornography, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Culture and other departments, we organized a special campaign to purify the summer network environment, and closed, rectified and punished nearly 1,000 illegal websites; It will also work with the State Food and Drug Administration and other five departments to crack down on illegal activities of using the Internet to sell counterfeit drugs. In addition, according to the report clues, more than 120 websites that use negative false information for extortion, such as People’s Internal Reference Network, were closed according to law. The action of caring for young people on the Internet, which was carried out jointly with the Ministry of Education and other four departments, has also achieved initial results.

　　In the next step, we will continue to support the fight against organized online rumors. At the same time, we will pay close attention to protecting the healthy growth of young people as our daily work. At present, illegal activities such as extortion and fee deletion by using negative information and false information are still serious, and all sectors of society have reacted strongly. We will crack down with the public security organs and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology according to law. Like cracking down on online rumors, it will not be a gust of wind.