The Human Flesh Search Engine

Link: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-07/04/content_6821165.htm

In my last blog entry, I showed a more … benevolent side to the internet in China. Here, I will explain about a revival of “witch hunting.”

The human flesh search engine (HFSE) is a phenomena in China in which users will research the background of an internet personality using blogs, forums and other cyber-media. Unlike literal search engines such as Google, the HFSE employs thousands of netizens scouring the internet for any information on said person. After a few infamous cases, the People’s Court of China announced that the “human flesh search engine” is an alarming threat because it violates privacy protection laws and promotes cyber-bulling.

Unlike trolling, human flesh search engine, by definition, isn’t meant to cause random disturbances and harm. Rather, it is a form of “vigilance.” In one scenario, a woman named Wang Jue posted videos of her wearing high heels and stomping animals (a black dog, kitten) until they died from mutilation. Some folks analyzed the backdrop of the video and determined which part of China the clip came from, and within a few weeks, her address, phone number, job and any other accompanying detail was discovered and she was fired from her job.

A few other examples include:

After the May 12 earthquake, a girl from a college in Chongqing municipality nicknamed Diebao said on the Internet that the earthquake was "interesting". "I wonder why wasn't it more vehement?" she said.

Her mother and teacher received cursing and threatening phone calls from angry netizens, forcing the girl to suspend her schooling.

In comparison, the punishment of Wang Fei seemed more severe. His wife Jiang Yan jumped from 24th floor on December 27 last year after learning of Wang's adultery, leaving a blog diary to recall her despair over the previous two months.

People not only wrote characters with paint on the door of Wang's parents accusing them of killing Jiang, but contacted Saatchi & Saatchi, the company where Wang and his mistress worked. Later the company suspended them, and the pair later resigned.

At first glance, HFSE was funny and made me have a "good feeling" that these "bastards" were getting "punished." However, analyzing it on a closer level, it's almost disturbing. Upset some people, and your life literally can be ruined.

What are your opinions on this subject matter?

- Khuyen Lam