She looks like any other disgruntled young person. Arms tightly crossed, mouth
twisted in contempt, she could be letting off steam about parents, school,
or boyfriends.
But when 21-year-old Gao Qianhui sat down in front her webcam last month, she
had far more important issues on her mind. Upset that the three-day mourning
period for the 80,000 victims of the earthquake in southwest China had
disrupted her television viewing schedule, she launched into a five-minute
spew of vitriol and then posted the video online.
"I turn on the TV and see injured people, corpses, rotten bodies... I
don’t want to watch these things. I have no choice.” Ms Gao sighed: “Come
on, how many of you died? Just a few, right? There are so many people in
China anyway.”
Within hours, Ms Gao had become the latest victim of a human flesh search
engine, where Chinese netizens become cyber-vigilantes and online
communities turn into the world’s largest lynch mobs.
Using the vast human power behind the Chinese web, every detail of Ms Gao’s
life, from her home and work address in Liaoning province, north east China,
to the fact that her parents were divorced, was dug up and published on
hundreds of forums and chatrooms.
“Now humiliate her,” ordered one internet user, Yang Zhiyan.
The outraged reaction to the video drew the attention of the local police and
they detained Ms Gao the next day. They did not make clear what law she was
alleged to have broken.
Ms Gao was the fifth person to be targeted by a human flesh search engine
since the 8.0-magnitude earthquake ripped through Sichuan province on May
12.
On the day of the quake, three high school students in the provincial capital,
Chengdu, made a spoof news cast as they were evacuated from their
classrooms, joking that they hoped their school would collapse and they
would not have to go back. A few days later, shaky and tearful after the
harassment of hundreds of netizens, the same students filmed an apology: “We
really didn’t have bad intentions. We really do love our country…Thank you
to all of our internet friends for alerting us to our mistake and for
criticizing us.”
In Hong Kong, a schoolgirl was also forced to publicly apologise after writing
on her blog that she “had no feelings for Sichuan, no sadness or sympathy”.
The human flesh search engine discovered that she attended an elite school
and contacted the head teacher. The girl was threatened with expulsion and
forced to shut down her blog.
With their vast number of participants and angry nature, these witch hunts for
a digital age are a uniquely Chinese phenomenon.
Xujun Eberlein, the Chinese-American writer and observer, said: “China’s
population makes it easy to mobilize a large number of netizens to
participate in such a search, especially considering that there are many
smart and reasonably well-educated people in China who are intellectually
underemployed."
She added: “I think there is some pleasure in the idea of making information
available when there has been such significant suppression of both thoughts
and facts over the previous five decades.”
According to Ms Eberlein, the term “human flesh search engine”, a literal
translation of the Chinese, was first coined in 2001 when an entertainment
website asked users to track down film and music trivia.
With 210 million Chinese wired up to the internet, it was a powerful concept.
It quickly caught on and came to be used as a tool to punish the
perpetrators of extra-marital affairs, domestic violence and morality
crimes.
In one infamous case in 2006, a woman now dubbed “the kitten killer of
Hangzhou” posted a video of herself stomping a kitten to death with her
stiletto heels. China’s netizens erupted with rage and hundreds of amateur
sleuths traced the video to Hangzhou, a city south of Shanghai. They
discovered the woman’s name and that she had recently purchased a pair of
high-heeled shoes on eBay. They attacked her until she apologized on a local
government website and lost her job.
“Righteousness is one of the five virtues in the Confucian tradition,” Ms
Eberlein said. “With the convenience of the internet, and in the case of
non-responsive law, the righteous people took matters into their own hands.”
But 2008 has seen these search engines take on a new role. As Tibet erupted
and the Olympic torch relay was hampered by violent international protests,
they have been increasingly driven by a potent wave of Chinese nationalist
sentiment.
In April, Grace Wang, a Chinese student at Duke University in America, faced
the wrath of the online mob when a photograph of her writing “Free Tibet” on
a classmate’s back during a campus vigil appeared on a Chinese forum.
“Traitor to your country” had been printed over the image.
She insisted that she had been trying to act as a mediator and had only
written the slogan after the student agreed to talk with pro-China
demonstrators, also gathered on the campus.
But the story of the young Chinese women who had swapped sides roared through
the Chinese web with unstoppable momentum.
Ms Wang’s Chinese name, Chinese identification number and contact details in
America were tracked down and posted across the internet. She received hate
mail and threats that if ever she returned to China, she would be “chopped
into 10,000 pieces”. Her parents’ address in China was published and they
were forced to go into hiding.
Tibetans have also been targeted. After 44-year-old Lobsang Gendun was
photographed protesting at the Olympic torch relay in London, Paris and San
Francisco, the human flesh search engine whirred into action.
With huge overseas communities, it took just a couple of hours for Chinese web
users to collate the pieces of Mr Gendun’s life – replete with Google
satellite map and photos of his American home.
“I suggest assassination,” wrote one poster. “Execution by shooting,” said
another. No, no, insisted yet another: “Use China’s most ancient form of
execution – dismember him.”
In an unfortunate case of mistaken identity, it turned out there was another
exiled Tibetan called Lobsang Gendun living in Utah. Since the targeting of
his namesake began, Mr Gendun, a self-proclaimed “Olympic supporter”, has
received hundreds of aggressive emails and telephone calls.
“Yes, we curse him to death and we are eager to see him go to Hell,” a
participant in the hate campaign against Mr Gendun – it did not seem to
matter which one – said. “But do you see us pouring petrol round his house?
We are just expressing our rage.”
Yang Zhiyan, the chief instigator of the backlash against 21-year-old Gao
Qianhui, was also quick to dismiss any notion of wrong doing. “She just had
to be stopped,” the 27-year-old said simply. “In the face of a catastrophe,
we Chinese have to be of one heart.
“Gao Qianhui publicly defamed the State Council’s announcement of a national
mourning period through the fastest and most effective avenue possible [the
internet] and she should be dealt with according to the laws on public
order.”
He added, proudly: “It was the great netizens who alerted the police and gave
them her details to arrest her.”
Video translation- what Gao Qianhui said:
"I turn on the TV and see injured people, corpses, rotten bodies, all
these crazy things. I don’t want to watch these things. I have no choice.
Look, now the entire internet is black-and-white and without colour. Do you
think we're all colourblind like you? Have your eyes been blasted with so
much rubble that you can't see any colour now?
"You guys, if you're hit by the rubble just go suffer by yourself
quietly...What are you screaming for? What rescue are you asking for? Not that
I'm blaming you...you guys in Sichuan are in a terrible place in China. They
say the Indian plate is crashing into you. Don't you think you guys deserve
it?
"I don't think this earthquake was strong enough. If only it had just
been a bit stronger to flip you guys over. Today we're mourning for you.
Tomorrow we're donating money to you. May 21 is such a great day. Lots of
people want to get married. And now we have to mourn for you. Do you think
those couples should get married or not? What a spoilsport! May 20, May 21,
such auspicious days, now all spent mourning for you. Come on, how many of
you died? Just a few, right? There are so many people in China anyway.
"F***...You're driving everyone crazy...What are you doing! Do you
think you're all that goodlooking? Which part of your body is that precious?
People are giving you cash and giving you food. And you guys are doing
nothing? These few days, it's just impossible to go anywhere without being
reminded of you silly c****...Everywhere I go people are saying, 'Argh,
aftershocks in Sichuan again, this and that...'
"As for that old lady who's been lying there for over 100 hours? Why
haven't you died yet? Are you a mummy?
"F***... the earthquake might as well kill you guys... All you have
given us are catastrophes... All your children are jinxes."
Flaming has been around on the net since its inception.
That more personal details can now be found makes it open to physical abuse.
But being able to track down someone who post vids stamping on kittens ? Serves them right - they need to be more than shamed.
Morris, Pulborough, UK
For those critics here...what what you say or they'll be on to you next!
Vincent, Milton Keynes,
Some of the posters here just can't get their minds around the concept that most Chinese actually love their country. Or that they might understand the difference between good and evil and might want to act on it. We in the West are apparently far too "advanced" for such ideas.
Chris, Boca Raton, USA
Herein is a major philosophical difference between citizens of the Republic of China and those of the United States. We take for granted the bill of rights, which was designed to protect minorties from the tyranny of the majority. These lessons we've tried to learn since the witch trials of 1692.
Richard Starkweather II, Peoria, IL, United States of America
The netizens are supressing anyone who disagrees with them and harassing these people, if you can't express yourself without fear of retaliation then you are not free. Surely confucious taught the simple truth "two wrongs don't make a right". Oh I forgot you've all been brainwashed for 3 generations
David, Bethel, USA
If someone says something you don't like, just move on, ignore it, turn it off, etc.
That's what these young Chinese adults should learn to do instead of wasting their time making people conform or getting in to other people's lives.
Young Chinese are really bored and this is their entertainment.
E-man, South Lake Tahoe, US
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.
Shang Tsu, Regina, Canada
welcome to china. no not the hugely successful economic machine but the land of tortured souls run by soulless dictators.
david, antibe, usa
Gao Qianhui is 21 years old and she is adult. 80 thousands of people died from this tragedy and she doesn't show any sense of compassion. That is too inhumane and too cruel. I lost relatives in this earthquake. Yes, she enjoys her own freedom, but she causes pain for all of us who lost love ones.
john, Hong Kong, China
No doubt what Ms Gao said was insentitive and immature. But I dont think she quite deserves a national humiliation (same goes to other victims).
The longer I live abroad, the less attractive China seems to me. After all, why should I be all "patriotic" when I am not even allowed basic freedom!?
Lux , Reading, UK
Did the girl break any laws by posting that video? Did the netizens break any laws by finding out who she is? The girl has the right to free speech in a PUBLIC forum, the netizens do have the right to vent their anger On the NET too. If 99.9% happen to hate her speech, so be it.
T, San Jose,
Please don't forget that freedom of speech works both ways, this girl surely has her rights to speak what she thought, but Chinese people also has their right to crtisize her
zhangchi36, Swindon, UK
This should be employed in the United States to uncover the wide-spread vote fraud that is keeping real candidates like Ron Paul from getting elected.
Yosemite, Boise, ID,
So, Will, were those talking about killing the girl being responsible ? And why do we expect a high level of free speech in such an authoritarian country ? Most of the Chinese public sees the world the way the government tells them to. And we think Kim Jong-Il regularly hits holes-in-1 per round?
Hal, Somerville, USA
My wife has always been afraid to visit China, the land of her ancestors. I'd used to think she was just paranoid. Now I'm beginning to see what it is that she fears.
Peter, Trenton, USA
The right of freedom of speech for one includes the freedom of speech for the many who choose to criticize the one. People want to have their free speech without listening to the free speech of the many. Free Speech is for all.
John, Rexburg, Idaho
Though I do not 100% agree to put someone's personal info to the public, I 100% agree to someone has to be responsible for their words - even in the virtual world. There is no abosolute freedom in the Internet, thinking of child pornography, terrorist plot....justice still hunting them down
tim, Toronto, Canada
"Human flesh search engine" is not nice terms, but it indicates the power of mass people which can use Internet to criticize and justify the evils, if the evils are out of law controls.
Thomas, Hong kong, China
"To be honest, free speech is unacceptable in China because it is viewed as anti-human and anti-social-progress"
Says it all really .........
Mike, Nottm, UK
What a joke of 'free speech'! You cannot use your mouth without limit, which is just like that you cannot use your hands without limit.
To be honest, free speech is unacceptable in China because it is viewed as anti-human and anti-social-progress.
Ran, York, UK
To Eli, Busan, South Korea:
'so primitive in their nationalism'? Is the american beef delicious?
Or you just hate the US because of your nationalism?
Ran, York, UK
What about the Jpanese girl who let her dog 'do its business' on a train. She was filmed and the thing posted all over the internet, then she was harrassed etc. And wasnt there some case in Briatin - some party invites or something? Its the internet not some special Chinese thing
Kazmania, Tasmania, Australia
No wonder Al Gore and Michael Moore love China. They all think alike and attack those who think "THINK!" differently. I'm not an ant!
Michael, Montreal , Canada
As insensitive as that girl is, I think the article is alluding to the greater problem, that people who simply disagree with China's way of doing things are hunted down and essentially have their lives ruined. This is the kind of problem that shows how little control the Chinese government has...
Chris, Newcastle,
This has chilling parallels with the Cultural Revolution. I can't believe anyone agrees with the behavior. It is one thing to meet words with words and use the Internet to mock others. It is quite another to hunt people down. Russia had the KGB, China has its people. Scary.
Jim, Boston, USA
The Bible says "In the last days, the love of many will grow cold", that men will be "lovers of themselves" & "unthankful, unholy,.,without naural affection"
Should anyone really be surprised?
The writing is on the wall....
Erich Fenton, Gahanna, OH, USA
These netizens in China are like loyal dogs who do what the government tells them to do. They do not have the freedom of thought or speech. Indivudualism is essential to new inventions and progress. They should be ashamed for attacking someone who speaks their mind.
Gary, Tazewell,
There's a thing called free speech here in America. If she were here she could say all that and more and all she'd get is a sideways glance. Leave the girl alone. Her only crime is to have no empathy. These human flesh search engines are just a tool to limit free speech in China. Oh, and Free Tibet.
Jack, Southpaw,
doesn't look like she's alone in her selfish sense of entitlement! all the young people walking around and behind her are laughing...
Rose, Brooklyn, USA
It seems that many of the Chinese people need to be reminded that this is the 21st century and mob justice has no place in it.
Bryan, Denver, USA
I can take any writing by Adolf Hitler and replace "German" with "Chinese" and have something that the majority of Chinese people are quite happy with. They are so primitive in their nationalism. And this "Human Flesh Search Engine" just sounds like the Nazi Gestapo to me.
Eli, Busan, South Korea
Her comments go beyond expressing irritation: she's clearly distured: what shocking things for a member of the race to say!
Now that the internet allows people to display their inner natures freely, we can see their mentality for what it is. A fat lot of good this girl is to the human race!
iain carstairs, bedford, uk
If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.
Frank Upton, Solihull,
I do think that people should be responsible for what they say on the internet. It would certainly clean the place up a little bit. I don't think that even this girl deserves to go to gaol for saying something, even if it is unpopular.
Will, Wenzhou, China
Some victims of this site said offensive things. But free speech must be protected even if it offends; or you get a state where anyone fears being denounced for even the smallest slip.
"Criticism" has a different connotation in China where it the was used viciously during the cultural revolution.
P, Dalian, China
Yep if they choose to act in a way which is seen not to be for the greater good, they should be brought to heel, and in this way of humiliating them on the net they may just realise that to be outspoken in the way they were is not moral or ethically right. A cyber version of the stocks if you will..
Jim, Oulu, Finland
Seems fair enough to me. They all acted in an appallingly callous manner and are quite deserving of the criticism.
M, London, UK