Police crack down on people spreading rumors about Xizang mudslide

Chinese police have disclosed 10 significant cases of rumormongering related to the mudslide in Gyirong Port, Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, underscoring their commitment to combating the spread of false disaster-related information that misleads the public and disrupts cyberspace order.

On Monday, the Ministry of Public Security's cybersecurity department announced via its official WeChat account that police across the country are actively campaigning against online rumors, with a particular focus on those concerning the mudslide that severely impacted the border port in Gyirong, resulting in significant casualties.

Most of the individuals involved were found to have fabricated or disseminated false death tolls and have been subjected to administrative penalties. The department emphasized that these actions are essential to maintaining order and facilitating the smooth progress of relief efforts.

In one instance, a netizen identified as Liu received an administrative penalty from the police in Lhasa, the capital of Xizang, for spreading false information claiming that over 3,000 people had perished in the disaster.

Similarly, in Xiangxi, Hunan province, another netizen, surnamed Zhou, was penalized for posting a short video falsely alleging that more than 10,000 people had died in the mudslide.

According to Chinese law, individuals who intentionally spread rumors or false information about emergencies, epidemics, disasters, or public security, thereby disrupting public order, may face administrative detention for five to 10 days and a fine of up to 1,000 yuan ($149). If the rumors cause serious social disruption, offenders may be subject to criminal charges, including imprisonment, the department added.