Cyberbullying in Fandom: What to do When Both Parties Are Minors (AI Translation)

【周刊提前读】饭圈网暴施害受害皆未成年 各方履责刻不容缓

[para. 1] Since April, Chinese regulators have intensively cracked down on online chaos emanating from "fan circles." On April 2, authorities reported the removal of 1.6 million illegal posts, and on April 7, multiple Weibo accounts that propagated rumors and scandals were shut down. A prior controversy around online bullying introduced "kai he" ("unboxing"), a term describing exposing individuals' private information and spurring collective harassment—a new dimension in fan culture that even involved minors.

[para. 2] An incident in March 2024, involving a pregnant woman commented on South Korean celebrity Jang Won-young’s schedule, led to her being doxxed by fans exposing her personal information. This exploded into a broader scandal when one accuser, "Yan Mou," implicated Baidu VP Xie Guangjun, alleging misuse of company resources to support doxxing, which Baidu denied. Baidu faced further scrutiny due to its history of data breaches, including prior controversies linked to medical ads and poor privacy practices.

[para. 3][para. 4] Simultaneously, Weibo, the platform hosting the cyberbullying, announced governance results such as banning 147 accounts and removing 451 doxxing posts. However, platform monitoring struggles with proper enforcement against stealthy behaviors, like "grey-area" harassment through subtle means. The rising younger user base on platforms (16.7% of China’s 1.108 billion internet users are minors) presents an urgent challenge. Regulators have intensified yearly campaigns like "Clear and Bright" while platforms have leaned on AI tools for content moderation.

[para. 5] China has long targeted extreme fandom, introducing regulatory measures such as banning celebrity rankings and implementing reporting mechanisms. Platforms like Weibo, Douyin, and Kuaishou face significant risks balancing content governance and maintaining user engagement. Discussions with industry insiders revealed that aggressive fan activities are difficult to monitor, as fanbase members innovate methods to evade detection, internal fan conflicts intensify, and some content creators deliberately provoke controversy for traction.

[para. 6] Beyond China, Telegram and the dark web represent havens for social engineering and rampant data leaks, where personal information is traded for doxxing and harassment. Telegram’s encryption and anonymity are exploited for illegal trades, similar to platforms embroiled in high-profile cases like South Korea's "Nth Room." These structural gaps exacerbate global challenges in safeguarding online privacy, adherence to regulations, and protecting minors.

[para. 7][para. 8] The convergence of underage internet users and excessive fandom pressures necessitates more robust measures for personal data protection. Regulatory steps, including China's 2024 "Clean Cyberspace" action against youth-targeted cyber harassment, underscore worsening risks. Minors’ integration into online subcultures exposes them to organized trolling and fan aggression, often facilitated by shifting activity to international platforms unreachable by local law enforcement.

[para. 9] Platforms like Weibo continue incrementally introducing governance, such as comment filtering and real-time risk detection, and others utilize AI to address violations proactively. Yet, their response timeframe remains insufficient during viral controversies. The "unboxing" incident highlighted that both platforms and related entities—corporate sponsors, fan club moderators, and influencers—must verifiably oversee their ecosystems and prevent privacy breaches becoming systemic.

[para. 10] The viral spread of doxxing stems from globally accessible datasets dubbed "social engineering databases." Compiled from past breaches, these datasets are sold or distributed freely, enabling precise individual targeting. Criminal exploitation spans hacking private details, manipulation via credential stuffing, and even exposing minors’ sensitive data linked to their households. Despite regulatory victories, these illicit markets constantly regenerate.

[para. 11][para. 12] Experts emphasize industry-wide collaboration to tackle online harassment and privacy violations, with new technologies vital for preempting innovative methods in cyberbullying. Firms like Baidu have pledged stronger data-security frameworks but face rising accountability from users. Consumer awareness about personal data is growing, though systemic responsibility hinges on stricter safeguards adhering to China’s Personal Information Protection Law. The challenges from fandom culture extend globally, requiring balanced, long-term platform regulations to give minors and global users safer digital environments.