The police in Dujiangyan, Sichuan Province, reported on Friday that two individuals have been charged with the crime of spreading misleading rumors about giant pandas for monetary gain. The announcement detailed how the pair incited online communities to resist essential international cooperation for the conservation of these animals, while also damaging the reputations of vital institutions and experts involved in panda conservation efforts.
Authorities began receiving reports in March 2024 regarding netizens who were utilizing social media platforms, particularly short videos and live streams, to spread baseless claims about the treatment of giant pandas. Investigations revealed that, starting in June 2023, a 56-year-old woman surnamed Bai and a 40-year-old man surnamed Xu, both from Xianyang in Shaanxi Province, fabricated stories suggesting that the pandas Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, which returned to China from the US in November 2023, were being mistreated.
The financial gains from their activities amounted to over 30,000 yuan through live broadcasts, along with an additional 140,000 yuan raised from followers, totaling profits that exceeded 170,000 yuan. In promoting these false narratives, they harmed the credibility of organizations such as the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the China Giant Panda Conservation and Research Center, along with the individuals working within these fields.
As a consequence of Bai and Xu's actions, followers engaged in various illegal activities, including harassing professionals through phone calls and abusive messages, which disrupted their work and personal lives. Moreover, these individuals made false complaints and calls to emergency hotlines, wasting public resources and significantly interfering with normal operations.
The conduct of Bai and Xu contravenes several provisions of China's criminal law, and as a result, they have been officially moved forward for prosecution, with the case still under further investigation by local authorities.
5 Comments
Rotfront
It’s absurd to see people being charged for speaking up about animal treatment. This is not the way to handle dissent.
Matzomaster
Disinformation like this can lead to real harm, both for the animals involved and the organizations working for them.
Karamba
It’s about time! People need to understand the seriousness of spreading disinformation, especially regarding wildlife.
Matzomaster
I admire the authorities for taking a stand. We need to protect panda welfare, not let misinformation thrive!
Karamba
misinformation will not be tolerated, especially when it endangers our wildlife.