Panda conservation centre and table tennis star speak out about cyberbullying, internet rumours and the dark side of online fandom
“Recently, it has been deeply disheartening to see certain individuals inciting and manipulating public opinion – both domestically and abroad – to smear China’s ‘friendship ambassadors’, the giant pandas, while relentlessly cyberbullying frontline panda caretakers,” it said.
“This work calls for real commitment, not emotional outbursts or fan frenzy. While public oversight is welcomed, we firmly oppose extreme or illegal acts carried out in the name of ‘love’.”
In June, a court in Sichuan convicted two people of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” for falsely claiming that researchers had abused giant pandas, and for inciting online harassment against research institutes and staff.
According to China News Service, the pair were accused of using dozens of accounts and spreading false information through live streams and short videos on social media. One was sentenced to one year and six months in prison and the other received a sentence of one year and two months.
