EDITORIAL : THE GLOBAL TIMES, CHINA

 

 

Adopting a clear-cut stance against rumors

 

The robust and sprawling development of China's microblogs is becoming a double-edged sword nowadays. Some malicious rumors in the virtual world have triggered violent riots in the real one.

In a recent case, a microblogger who fabricated an online post of the death of a street vendor turned a minor dispute into a full-scale brawl in suburban Guangzhou. Though the rumormonger, surnamed Chen, was arrested by local police, how to handle Web gossip remains a thorny problem in many places.

Some Internet scholars even went a step further, expressing their sympathy with Chen by accusing the authorities of violating his right to "freedom of speech." Meanwhile, other legal experts interviewed by the Global Times rejected the accusation, noting that spreading rumors have nothing to do with freedom of speech. The responsibilities of rumormongers, if their online remarks have resulted in severe consequences, must be pursued.

A clear-cut stance should be adopted in the fight against online rumors, which usually fit with the interests of some special groups. In China's history, rumors have been resorted to as a political weapon, but it is high time to say farewell to this method.

First, rumormongers must be liable for the damages they cause and be punished instantly according to the law. At the same time, the degree of the penalty meted out to them should not be made wantonly.

The spread of rumors is insidious. Rumors are usually the fuse that set off massive riots, and not their deeper causes. As a result, some local governments have overestimated the damage done by online rumors. Such a mode of thinking is unilateral and harmful. The more important issue is to root out the fundamental causes that incubate rumors.

For quite a long time, the spread of rumors has focused on controversial issues, such as demolitions, urban management and corrupt officials. Local governments should pay great attention to these issues, seek the disclosure of information and not hide important facts from the people. The public's lawful demand for more information must be satisfied, otherwise rumors will always find fertile soil to grow in.

Secondly, rumors are always destructive, requiring local governments to adopt an open attitude and enhance their credibility when facing criticism. Self-criticism is needed for a grassroots government, which should not only stress the achievements they have made. They should tolerate distrust from the public. In a word, the fight against rumors cannot be won in a day. Governments should seek transparency of information, punish rumormongers and adopt a decisive attitude toward the spread of rumors.