Opinion
Illegal Online Accounts Shutdown
  ·  2017-06-23  ·   Source:

Online platforms such as Twitter-like social media service Weibo and instant messaging app WeChat were ordered to shut down a number of accounts for publishing vulgar content by the Beijing Cyberspace Administration on June 7.

Most of the closed accounts posted entertainment industry gossip, while some were owned by famous paparazzi. Some have expressed doubts about the move because it deprives fans of the opportunity to get information about their idols and reduces stars' exposure. Such doubts are ill-founded. Although stars are public figures, they have the right to privacy, and their privacy should not be exploited. Stars who take advantage of social media accounts to reveal private matters for personal gain have a negative impact on society and should be banned from doing so.

The Cybersecurity Law, which took effect on June 1, prohibits use of the Internet to engage in activities that damage others' reputation, privacy, intellectual property rights and other legitimate rights; operators of online platforms should strengthen management of information published by their users, delete improper information once it is detected and report it to relevant supervisory departments. Online operators, which also benefit from accounts with a large following, should not evade their responsibilities.

In addition, the revenue derived from these illegal accounts should be confiscated in order to create a healthy online environment.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article published in Legal Daily on June 9) 

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