One freedom should not be realized by depriving the freedoms of another. The Internet, through which freedom of expression has developed to a great extent, cannot be the seedbed for violence and irrationality. The law should punish crimes. Immorality should be adjusted by ethics. We should focus more on how to construct a civilized and disciplined virtual world under a society ruled by law, instead of a place to judge and expose without sympathy.

Ji Huitao (Jinri Anbao Daily): Extensive search for a fugitive criminal is organized by the police force following strict legal procedures. If Internet hunting spills over to the real world, it will definitely devastate the dignity and solemnity of the law.

Unrestrained hunts and extensive circulation of pictures, names and other private information of the people alleged to have done something wrong means there is no recourse for the ones exposed. Such cyber hunts should be prohibited for the sake of social stability via strengthened network surveillance and the raising of public legal awareness.

Han Xue (Procuratorial Daily): Under the current legal framework, it is perhaps a way to trace the immoral people and safeguard social morality. However, victims of this system are on the rise, because of the unproved "facts," inconvenience brought about by release of private information and infringements on privacy. Furious attacks from netizens have already damaged the victims' reputation.

Neither certified, nor supervised, nobody will take on the responsibility caused by the witch-hunts. In the disguise of justice, network rules have been destroyed by these random hunts.

Gao Fusheng (Workers' Daily): Virtual media should also be publicly supervised and legally restrained. Without authorization from judicial organs, any manhunt is illegal in terms of procedure. If there was enough of an uproar over these cases, lawsuits might become more common, as was the case last year when a Beijing-based education institution was sued after releasing a notice to hunt down a former employee through the Internet. Essentially, the Internet manhunts carry more indignation and sympathy than rationality and legitimacy, and can easily stir up public interest in controversial social matters.

Cyberpower to do good

Li Jinsong (hlj.rednet.cn): If everyone avoids responsibility, mistakes and misbehavior are not condemned, social morality could not be maintained.

Online comments might be another channel to supervise and to safeguard moral order. Most Chinese people are generous in giving opinions and suggestions, rather than keeping silent in virtual communities. The transition from a group of strangers to a society of acquaintances has fundamentally kept netizens more disciplined by mutual supervision.

Though not stable, a virtual society of acquaintances might help rebuild moral order to curb unscrupulousness. It could also influence behavior in real life.

"Criminal" committing cat abuse and unruly teenagers are finally punished through public apologies. It has not only shown the power and influence of netizens, but also helped fix the defects of our current ethical system, where legal codes have not yet extended.

Liu Pinxin (Procuratorial Daily): These campaigns self-initiated by netizens won't pose much menace to real life, but are a complement for social justice. But these investigations and people searches should be true and objective within the limits of the law. And disclosure of privacy must be a forbidden zone.

Bingyu Zijing (sohu.com): Hunting online is a new type of punishment on immorality, often violently, because of furor.

Beyond protection of current legal system, puniness is usually bullied by these scoundrels. And such online hunts can offer some assistance to those suffering from offenses or even brutality.