15th of March
The cleansing of Internet environment continues. On March 15th, CAC assigned a supervision team to oversee and rectify Douban, as its environment was getting more and more chaotic.
CAC - National Cyber Space Administration of China (国家互联网信息办公室) is an enforcement agency for the internet content provision sector. It is in charge of security and internet content regulation. They are directing, coordinating and supervising online content management and taking care of administrative approval business related to online news reporting. Douban - (chinese: 豆瓣; pinyin: Dòubàn), launched on March 6, 2005, is a Chinese social networking service website allowing registered users to record information and create content related to film, books, music, recent events and activities in Chinese cities.
Learn more about Douban here
Posted on 16th of March
REMINDER
On December 24th Chinese lawmakers voted to adopt an anti-organized crime law. It was approved at a session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Source
The Anti-Organized Crime Act has will take effect on May 1, 2022. The military lawyer, 兵哥老马, who has been following LXZ's campaign posted a one-picture summary highlighting point 3 which targets "protection umbrella" - government officials who are protecting criminal behaviors.
Translation below by Bluebirdmuppet
"Anti-Organized Crime Act
Comes into force May 1, 2022
One Picture Summary
1. Define the concept of organized crime
Organized crime refers to crimes in the criminal law, as well as crimes committed by criminal organizations, foreign criminal organizations, and malicious organizations
2. Elevate malicious organizations to a legal concept
Malicious organizations refer to groups that frequently gather together and use violence, threats, or other strategies to repeatedly carry out illegal and criminal activities. They commit crimes and oppress others, but do not yet take the form of criminal organizations.
3. Identify criminal activity on the internet (information networks)
Some members of organizations use information networks to contact organized crime and implement criminal activity. Even if they have not met each other and are unfamiliar with one another, it does not impact on its identification as a criminal organization.
4. Identify "soft violence" as a strategy of organized crime
Conduct directed at another person with the purpose of obtaining illegal benefits or creating illegal influence, such as provoking disputes, causing conflict, causing disturbances, gathering crowds, etc. sufficient to cause the person to feel psychological coercion, impacts or restricts a person's freedom, endangers personal property, impacts on the ability to work, or other strategies that can impact on social life and order, can be considered methods of organized crime.
5. Punish strictly according to the law
Cases involving organized crime should reflect a spirit of strict punishments according to the law. Bail, non-prosecution, probation, reduction in sentence, release on parole, conditions for release on bail to obtain medical treatment should be strictly controlled. Suspension of certain rights and financial penalties should be utilized to reduce the possibility of reoffending."
Bluebird also commented: https://twitter.com/bluebirdmuppet/status/1478235204179402757
Note #3 was highlighted by the lawyer although I think all of the points are interesting for our purposes. The new law seems to define organized crime to include criminal conduct by "malicious organizations". This seems significant because "malicious organizations" would not be typical criminal organizations. Rather, the law seems to contemplate that bad actor organizations that seek to harm person(s) by organized activity (including "soft violence") would be captured in this law. One could potentially speculate that something like this "could" capture an organization like CAPA and/or other orgs in industry if it can be proven that they used threats and "soft violence" to cause harm on a person... This is all speculation of course, but interesting.
17th of March
State Council Information Office held a press conference on the effects of Qinglang operation.
Source: Weibo
QuelleVous on Twitter summarised main talking points;
"Results of 2021 internet clean up: 22 million posts in violation 1.34 billion accounts 7200 streaming accounts 3200 websites 2160 apps"
She also noticed:
Funny because CAPA only banned a total of 41+85 = 126 streamers last year! I wonder why the numbers don't match up? Source
10 themes of qinglang Source: Weibo
"1. Target livestream and short form content chaotic environment
2. Fix MCNs and their misuse of big data
3. Target online rumors
4. Fix underaged online user environment during summer 2022
5. Fix data providers 6. Streamline online streaming regulations
7. 2022 data clean up
8. 2022 lunar new year clean up
9. Target fake engagement, smear campaigns and water armies
10. Fix online accounts violations"
Translation QuelleVous on Twitter
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"Roving Inspection Team posted about Qinglang and said that it supports the CAC’s policies and activities, and supports “accurately” [their punctuation] cracking down on immoral artists from making an illegal comeback." by Bluebird on Twitter
18th of March
On 18th of March we heard Zhang Zhehan's voice again. He's not giving up!
"I felt like if it were a man, I should stand up and resist this kind of power. This wasn't as simple as kicking me out of the entertainment industry, or preventing me from working in this industry in the future. Because I really can leave the entertainment industry. I can not be an actor. I can not work as an actor. But you did it like this. I--then I have to--including my mother and my family, they were all affected by this. Then I must stand up to fight against you on this matter."
__________________
"Roving Inspection Team retweeted Hunan High Court Message regarding the actions needed on cyberbullying. Qinglang Conference on the 17th March has identified 10 focus areas and we look forward to seeing higher regulation of mis/dis information and deliberate smearing."
19th of March
"Roving Inspection Team posted a video of someone describing a telephone scam using the pandemic as an excuse. The post: "Internet negative public relations and internet fraud are the enemy of the public. They dare to use the epidemic to do evil."
21st of March
Teddyfoxfluff published second part of post 813 netizen's stories. She wrote:
"Part 2 of the fan reaction series is now up. Cyberviolence harms many more people than the victims themselves. The people who witnessed August are still recovering, yet the fandom has been divided, and some are even In December I asked fans about how August impacted them personally. I received over 190 responses during the two weeks the survey was open. I’ve featured some of the responses that really resonated… contributing to the cyber bullying of other celebrities. I hope these stories can remind people how harmful August was to average netizens like you and me, and that what happened in August should never be allowed happen again."
23rd of March
The "Roving Inspection Team" posted a clarification saying that their account was probably hacked and they're investigating it with Weibo. Reminder: RIT is an account connected to Mr Li Xuezheng which is continuously reposting articles addressing the need to take care of cyberviolence and cyberbullying - the topic that's essential to Zhang Zhehan's case.
Translation below by Bluebirdmuppet on Twitter
"The background picture of the official Weibo account for TV Drama "Roving Inspection Team" was changed tot he photo of a cat. This led to debate by many netizens, including continuous speculations. We declare: We are officially communicating with WB for the reason, but we can guarantee that the picture was absolutely not changed by our staff. The "Roving Inspection Team" has insisted on abiding by the law, do the work of pursuing justice and protecting the party. We also warn certain hackers who are maliciously linking our account to pornography, and are attempting to frame Golden Shield Television's official web accounts, we will deal with you once you are discovered."
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The movement of cleaning Internet space is in full swing. Despite this CAPA is still free to do their business:
CAPA is out of its coffin. Its latest announcement on concert delay/cancellation is reported by 86 media outlets. Topic is currently trending as #17 on main chart, #1 under entertainment. Truly the celebrity of Weibo. Unfortunately it still hasn't answered any of our questions. By Karen on Twitter
25th of March
The "Roving Inspection Team" posted again indirectly shading CAPA as the "social organization with a corporate nature using pseudonymous public opinion" who tries to steal the authority from CAC. Reminder: CAPA still didn't answer any of Mr. Li and netizens questions about their shady actions, also related to Zhang Zhehan's incident. They're doing their business unperturbed.
26th of March
On 21st of March Chinese media reported on cherry blossoms in Japan, including those in Yasukuni Shrine in Chiyoda Ward. It can easily be read as a not direct invitation to go and admire them. It's extremely disturbing how easily the case of Zhang Zhehan who was boycotted and named traitor by CAPA because of a trip to enjoy cherry blossoms, is being swept under the rug. That's what the double standard looks like.
On 26th of March The Roving Inspection team posted with screenshots of the articles expressing hope for the Chinese and Japanese people to live in harmony and strong disapproval of the use of fake "national sentiment" to frame any Chinese compatriot.
27th of March
The Roving Inspection Team posted on Weibo encouraging to strenghten cultural cooperation with other countries and reminding netizens that to maintain national unity, patriotism cannot be used as a weapon to fight with compatriots.
Teddyfoxfluff published third part of fan reactions: https://teddyfoxfluff.wordpress.com/2022/03/27/fan-reactions-to-august-part-3/
28th of March
上海成雨 wrote about the possible ways for the media to treat Zhang Zhehan's case pointing out that they should change their stance & self-correct to save their credibility & status.
He also encourages us to be confident as this case is going in the good direction.
Translation by ieatwhitecats on Twitter
31st of March
After months of inactivity on Zhang Zhehan's Instagram account, the profile picture was updated in the middle of the night (Asia time). The previous selfie photo was swapped out for a logo registered as "ELPV".
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