China's top court cracks down on online extortion, strengthen cybersecurity

The Supreme People's Court, China's top court, has ordered all courts nationwide to intensify the fight against online extortion to safeguard people's legitimate rights in cyberspace and clearly establish the red line for internet operations.

The directive was issued alongside six concluded cases, which involved individuals who fabricated and spread rumors online for profits and those who engaged in online nude chats to blackmail victims for money by threatening to release the recorded videos.

The top court acknowledged that criminal activities have increasingly spread into cyberspace with the deep integration of information networks, revealing that there have been frequent occurrences of extortion through the fabrication and dissemination of fake information and negative messages online over the past few years.

"Online extortion has severely damaged the legitimate rights and interests of people and enterprises, including their reputation and property rights, and also posed a threat to cybersecurity, social stability and economic development," it said.

"Disclosing the cases, on one hand, aims to help the public learn about how online extortion occurs and enhance their legal awareness to prevent the offenses. On the other hand, the disclosure demonstrates the judiciary's firm stance on harshly punishing such crimes and determination to uphold justice in cyberspace."

While encouraging responsible online behavior, the Supreme People's Court called on courts nationwide to strengthen enforcement against online extortion, so as to create a law-based business environment, clarify the legal boundaries of online behaviors and indicate the pathways for lawful rights protection.