公安機關重拳打擊網絡水軍

The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) said last Saturday it has closed 31 websites and 1,100 social media accounts suspected of engaging in trolling activities or posting messages for extortion since the start of this year.

公安部上週六表示，今年以來，該部已關閉涉嫌參與“網絡水軍”行爲或發佈勒索信息的31家網站和1100個社交媒體賬號。

The police also busted 28 cases involving unlawful activities of paid online trolls, or ghostwriters hired to post online content, and arrested 67 suspects after a series of operations, said the ministry, adding that it found more than 80 enterprises and organizations were blackmailed.

公安部稱，警方還偵破涉嫌在網絡上有償炒作爭議性話題的非法行爲或僱用寫手在線發佈內容的案件28起，在一系列的行動中抓獲嫌疑人67名，發現被敲詐勒索的企事業單位80餘家。

In a statement, the MPS accused the suspects of engaging in extortion, fraud, running illegal businesses, libel, and violation of personal information.

在一份聲明中，公安部指控這些嫌疑人從事勒索、欺詐、非法經營、誹謗和侵犯個人信息。

Some suspects, by using social media platforms, such as Sina Weibo and WeChat, as well as setting up websites overseas, organized large-scale operations in paid post-writing, post-deletion and other activities, said the MPS.

公安部表示，部分嫌疑人通過新浪微博、微信等社交媒體平臺以及設立海外網站，組織大規模有償撰寫帖文、有償刪帖等行爲。

The police found that some social-media account operators even fabricated trumped-up accusations against organizations and individuals, posted negative information online and demanded a "ransom-like" fee in exchange for post-deletion services.

警方發現，部分社交媒體賬號經營者甚至針對組織和個人捏造不實指控，在網上發佈負面信息，要求對方支付一筆“類似贖金”的費用以換取刪帖服務。

The ministry said among the nabbed suspects, some have been given a jail term while some cases have been transferred to judicial organs.

該部門稱，被捕涉案人員中有部分人已被判處有期徒刑，一些案件已移交司法機關。