False rumors 'could harm society'

People's Daily on Monday selected 10 online rumors typical of those that have been circulating in recent years, calling on the public to be aware of fake information.

The 10 cases covered various fields, including food security and natural disasters. The selection aims to show the harm of online rumors and the punishments for wrongdoers, People's Daily reporter Huang Qingchang told China Daily.

"Rumors always exist, but they have been more serious and harmful to society recently. That's why we wrote such an article," Huang said.

At the end of March, six people allegedly fabricated and spread a rumor through micro blogs that "military vehicles have entered Beijing", which exerted a very bad influence on the public. They were later detained, while 16 websites disseminating the information were closed, the paper said.

"The cases we chose were hot issues and had serious social consequences," he said.

In another case, some people spread a rumor online, saying that iodized salt could save residents from radiation caused by a nuclear leak following Japan's earthquake in March 2011, leading to panic salt-buying in some cities.

As a result, those responsible received 10-day administrative detentions and paid 500 yuan ($80) in fines, the paper said.

In 2008, mobile phone messages saying oranges in Sichuan province were full of worms led to a panic and a loss in sales of Sichuan oranges. The information was later confirmed fake.

In 2010, five people in North China's Shanxi province spread fake information through cellphones and online forums, saying that a big earthquake would happen. They were eventually punished by administration authorities.

"It's necessary to give a rumor list to the public and establish a rumor database," said Shen Yang, a professor specializing in information management at Wuhan University.

"Netizens can't remember old fake information clearly. They need a database or list to help them distinguish truth from falsehood as the fake ones come out again," he said.

Shen added that the public is sometimes reluctant to believe information from the government, which has made it harder to eliminate rumors.

"Authorities should give a clear response as emergencies happen or gossip spreads through the Internet," he said, adding that timely responses can reduce panic and promote government credibility.

People or government departments involved in rumors should give explanations, while authoritative non-governmental organizations, such as food and medical associations, should also reply quickly to reduce potential losses, he said.

The professor also suggested that administrations select reasonable opinions and analysis from netizens who forward problematic information for clarification, instead of simply deleting the information.

Liu Zhengrong, a senior official with the State Internet Information Office, said the government had asked website operators to establish a rumor reporting system, hoping netizens could help administrations clear up cyberspace.

"We're learning from Britain, which has set up reporting hotlines against online rumors and ordered domestic network companies to open up reporting channels as well," he said, adding that the battle against rumors needs assistance from the public.

Contact the writer at caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn