The newly enacted Tort Liability Law grants legal rights to people whose reputation or privacy has been damaged by online character assassination. It also holds Internet service providers accountable if they are aware of malicious intent of anonymous attackers, but fail to stop the infringement.
“Human flesh” search is a loose term to define thousands of anonymous Internet users who work together as self-styled detectives. They track down and harass people they disagree with by exposing their personal information online.
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A provision of the new law stipulates that Web users and Internet service providers are legally responsible if they use the Internet to maliciously attack innocent victims and compromise their personal information. Victims have the right to demand the deletion of such posts.
Internet service providers who are aware but fail to comply to the victim’s request will be held responsible. The victims are then entitled to compensation from abusers.
Read more on People’s Daily Online.
Xinhuanet provides additional coverage and reactions from law professors.