Freedom on internet promotes self-regulation of rumours

Beijing's latest campaign against on-line rumours has taken aim at internet celebrities, the microbloggers with strong followings on the two main networks, Sina and Tencent weibo. Dozens of people have been arrested and accounts shut down, the most prominent name among them, Charles Xue Biqun, an outspoken venture capitalist with 12 million followers. The internet is awash with falsehoods and half-truths, which have the potential to mislead, harm reputations and cause financial damage. But cracking down is no way to deal with tittle-tattle. Opening up the conversation so that there is reliable information is the sensible way forward.

A lack of transparency about the detentions has fuelled more rumours, the most talked about being that a fresh clampdown on liberal opinion is under way. But the circumstances of the arrests do not directly point to such silencing: Xue was held for involvement with a prostitute; Shanghai IT entrepreneur Fu Xuesheng was taken for false information against an official; and anti-graft crusader Zhou Lubao was in custody in Suzhou for alleged blackmail and making up a report of a terrorist attack. The cases have been accompanied by advice to internet celebrities that they have an obligation to be careful about what they say. On-line communities have been left confused as to what constitutes breaking the law.

Rumours are as old as society. They are the stuff of everyday talk, a means of getting information where no better way exists. Tight media restrictions mean that microblogs are rife with chatter, bubbling with hearsay among users thirsting for truth. In the absence of perceived official transparency, to many they are an invaluable source of news.

In such an environment, microbloggers with large followings have great sway. It is understandable that officials would want them to be prudent about what they share. But laws, rules and regulations are not in themselves a solution. There are about 600 million weibo users and among them there are bound to be troublemakers, opportunists and criminals.

Communities that are able to freely discuss events and share information self-regulate rumours. Microblogs are here to stay and clamping down on them will not put an end to the most salacious and harmful gossip. Laws and enforcement have a place, but of greatest importance is ensuring that the government is transparent and open and that all forms of media are allowed free rein and a wide variety of voices.