Rules needed to eliminate the rampant online abusers

Taiwanese actress Vivian Hsu, left, and He Jiong smile at a press conference for their new movie Lock Me Up, Tie Him Down in Beijing, Feb 28, 2014. [Photo/IC]

Qiao Mu, an associate professor at Beijing Foreign Studies University, who last month revealed entertainment star He Jiong had long left his job at the university yet remained on its payroll, has since been continually harassed by He's fans, some of whom have even threatened to assault him and rape his daughter. Comments:

It might be hard for the online platforms, even the authorities, to discover out who has been harassing Qiao. However, the online platform operators can at least do something by deleting the messages that contain threats and prohibiting the users from sending any messages again.

Xi'an Evening News, June 2

People at first used the Internet to hold online discussions and report injustices; however, as one PR company after another has emerged, it is now used by the rich and powerful to suppress opinions and threaten anybody who dare criticize them. Legislators need to draft laws that regulate cyberspace so that those attacking others online get sued.

nen.com.cn, June 1

He Jiong has refused to apologize to Qiao, saying he did not ask his fans to attack him. However, as an influential public figure with large numbers of fans that worship him almost superstitiously, He's silence will encourage his fans to continue harassing Qiao; so if he means what he said, he should publicly denounce the harassment so that his fans will stop.

cnhubei.com, June 5