More than 900 cases have been solved, and over 5,000 suspects have been apprehended, as the Ministry of Public Security releases typical cases of crackdowns on illegal activities involving "online water armies."

The Ministry of Public Security places high priority on cracking down on and addressing illegal activities related to "online water armies." Leveraging the "Clean Internet 2024" special operation, the department has launched a full-scale offensive, focusing on prominent criminal activities such as spreading rumors to drive traffic, manipulating public opinion for extortion, inflating metrics to control reviews, and paying for the removal of negative online content. Nationwide, public security agencies have been mobilized to intensify their efforts in combating these crimes. Since the beginning of this year, authorities have solved over 900 cases and apprehended more than 5,000 suspects. Through these targeted crackdowns, the police are working tirelessly to shrink the operational space for "online water army" activities, ensuring a safer and more orderly online environment. Today, the Ministry of Public Security released 10 typical cases that highlight its legal actions against "online water army" misconduct.

1. Shandong Zaozhuang public security authorities have cracked a case involving a media company that fabricated rumors to drive traffic. The cyber security department of the Shandong Zaozhuang Public Security Bureau revealed that the company purchased a large number of verified self-media accounts in order to attract followers and boost engagement. They then used AI tools to create and disseminate fabricated rumor content in bulk, resulting in the publication of over 3 million video and text-based posts. So far, Shandong Zaozhuang police have arrested 87 suspects and seized nearly 100,000 illegal or non-compliant social media accounts.

II. Guangzhou Public Security Authorities in Guangdong Province Have Uncovered a Case Involving Ye Moumou and Others Fabricating Rumors to Drive Traffic. The cyber security department of Guangzhou Public Security in Guangdong Province determined that Ye Moumou and others, aiming to boost traffic revenue on online platforms, recruited part-time workers to create self-media accounts. They then used AI tools to rewrite popular articles and systematically disseminated false information, resulting in the publication of over 500,000 misleading text-and-image posts designed to attract users. So far, Guangzhou Public Security authorities in Guangdong have apprehended six suspects involved in the crime.

III. Zhejiang Wenzhou Public Security Authorities Crack Down on Xu Moumou and Others for Fabricating Rumors to Drive Traffic. The cyber security department of the Zhejiang Wenzhou Public Security Bureau revealed that Xu Moumou and others established a company, recruited online writers to form a content-repurposing team, and used AI tools to repackage old news stories, resulting in the widespread dissemination of massive amounts of false information online and generating illegal profits exceeding 2 million yuan. So far, Zhejiang Wenzhou public security authorities have apprehended 17 suspects involved in the case.

IV. Jiangxi Fuzhou Public Security Authorities Solve the Online Extortion Case Involving Zou Moumou and Others. The cyber security department of Jiangxi Fuzhou Public Security has uncovered that Zou Moumou and his associates established an online media company, operating multiple self-media accounts to gather extensive negative information about various businesses. They then posted this content on several internet platforms, using it as a threat to extort money from victimized companies. To date, they have published nearly 10,000 posts, successfully extorting more than 100 enterprises and illegally gaining over 10 million yuan. Jiangxi Fuzhou authorities have already apprehended 11 suspects in connection with this case.

V. Henan Nanyang Public Security Authorities Solve the Cyber Extortion Case Involving Song Moumou and Others. The cyber security division of Henan Nanyang Public Security Authorities uncovered that Song Moumou and others impersonated journalists, rented website sections, and fabricated over 2,000 negative posts and videos online—using exaggerated and distorted tactics—to deceive the public. They then threatened multiple enterprises and institutions, demanding money in exchange for allegedly helping remove the harmful content or conducting exposure interviews. So far, Henan Nanyang authorities have apprehended 12 suspects and seized more than 3,000 fake news manuscripts.

Six, Zhejiang Taizhou public security authorities have cracked the case involving Fan and others who engaged in order-brushing and fake-review activities. The cyber security department of the Zhejiang Taizhou Public Security Bureau revealed that Fan and his associates set up a website platform to carry out these illegal practices, earning illicit profits. Merchants posted tasks on the platform, which were then picked up by "brushers," who completed fake purchases and left positive reviews on designated e-commerce platforms. This scheme artificially boosted merchants' sales figures, customer satisfaction ratings, and search rankings. In total, the operation provided order-brushing services to over 30,000 businesses, generating more than 10 million fake orders. So far, Zhejiang Taizhou police have arrested 26 suspects involved in the crime.

7. Jiangsu Suqian public security authorities have cracked the case involving Zong and others manipulating online metrics and reviews. The cyber security department of Jiangsu Suqian Public Security Bureau revealed that Zong and his associates established a studio, purchasing various "group control" software and a large number of mobile phones to illegally manage numerous online accounts. They provided paid services—including fake retweets, likes, and comments—to both the online livestreaming industry and "fan circles," artificially inflating engagement metrics for financial gain. The illegal profits reportedly amounted to tens of millions of yuan. Jiangsu Suqian police have already arrested seven suspects in connection with this case.

8. Sichuan Neijiang public security authorities have cracked the case involving Zhao Moumou and others engaging in fraudulent traffic boosting and review manipulation. The cyber security division of the Neijiang Public Security Bureau revealed that Zhao Moumou and his associates lured individuals online with the enticing promise of "easy money," tricking netizens into paying membership fees. Participants were then assigned roles based on their payment amounts, with the group organizing thousands of people to participate in live-stream interactions—such as posting fake comments and generating fabricated positive product reviews. The operation has now drawn over 100,000 participants. So far, Sichuan Neijiang police have apprehended 23 suspects involved in the crime.

Nine, Jiangsu Zhenjiang public security authorities have cracked the case involving Xiao and others who were paid to delete online posts. The cyber security division of the Jiangsu Zhenjiang Public Security Bureau revealed that Xiao and his associates formed a dedicated group, collaborating with others to purchase and hold numerous online accounts. They accepted commissions from professionals in entertainment, e-commerce, and other industries, exploiting vulnerabilities in online platforms to achieve their so-called "public opinion optimization" goals. As a result, they allegedly deleted over 10,000 online posts for payment, illegally earning more than 2 million yuan. So far, Jiangsu Zhenjiang police have apprehended 10 suspects involved in the crime.

Ten, Liaoning Jinzhou public security authorities have cracked the case involving Xi and others who allegedly offered paid services to post and delete false information online. The cyber security division of the Liaoning Jinzhou Public Security Bureau revealed that Xi and his associates recruited more than 300 individuals to provide so-called "public opinion monitoring" services on several well-known automotive review platforms across China—services that involved posting "praise-filled" comments based on pre-defined script templates. They also employed specific tactics to remove or suppress negative online posts. In total, they reportedly published over 400,000 fake reviews and deleted more than 1,000 negative comments. So far, Liaoning Jinzhou police have apprehended three suspects in connection with this case.

Source: Cyber Security Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security