What is an "internet rumor".
"Internet rumors" refer to rumors spread through online media (such as Weibo, foreign countries**, online forums, social networks**, chat software, etc.) without factual basis, offensive and purposeful words. It mainly involves emergencies, public spheres, politicians, subversion of tradition, deviance, etc.
Characteristics of Internet rumors
l**Blurred, strong concealment.
The information of Internet rumors is not clear, usually in the form of a number of **or**fragments and then with specific words, **and** often do not see a clear time and place, only the event itself, rumor-mongers often use this vague information out of context to win the attention of the "melon-eating masses".
l Spread quickly and have a wide influence.
In today's society, rumors spread in more diverse ways, and online rumors use the advantages of the Internet to break the limitations of time and space, and reach the audience quickly and widely through fission spread. The cost is low, the speed is fast, and a ** or a ** can become a hot event on the Internet in just a few hours, and the impact is very widespread.
l The content is absurd and demagogic.
The headline is often related to our current life, which is easy to attract attention and extremely harmful. By the time the truth surfaced, many netizens had already been deceived.
The legal consequences of spreading rumors and rumors
l Administrative punishment: According to Article 25 of the "Public Security Administration Punishment Law of the People's Republic of China": Anyone who spreads rumors, falsely reports dangers, epidemics, police information, or intentionally disrupts public order by other means shall be detained for not less than 5 days but not more than 10 days, and may also be fined up to 500 yuan; where the circumstances are more minor, they are to be detained for up to 5 days or fined up to 500 RMB.
Criminal penalties:
1. On the basis of Article 293, Paragraph 1, Item 4 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China and Article 5 of the Supreme People's Court's "Interpretations of Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases Involving the Use of Information Networks to Commit Defamation": Where false information is fabricated, or false information is clearly known to be fabricated, and is disseminated on information networks, or where persons are organized or instigated to spread it on information networks, causing serious public disorder, it is to be convicted and punished as the crime of picking quarrels and provoking trouble.
2. According to the provisions of paragraph 2 of article 291-1 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China: Where false dangers, epidemics, disasters, or police information are fabricated and disseminated on information networks or other ** information, or where false information is clearly known to be the above-mentioned and intentionally disseminated on information networks or other **, seriously disrupting social order, it is to be convicted and punished as the crime of fabricating or intentionally disseminating false information.
3. In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 of article 103 and paragraph 2 of article 105 of the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China, as well as paragraph 2 of article 10 of the "Interpretation of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Court on Several Issues Concerning the Specific Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases Obstructing the Prevention and Control of Sudden Infectious Disease Outbreaks and Other Disasters": Where disasters such as sudden infectious disease epidemics are used to create or spread rumors, incite the country, undermine national unity, or incite subversion of state power or overthrow the socialist system, in order to incite ** Conviction and punishment for state crimes or inciting subversion of state power.