Chinese judicial authorities have intensified efforts to combat organized crime, particularly offenses facilitated through online platforms and involving psychological tactics, in a bid to maintain social stability and public safety. Since a special campaign launched in July, prosecutors across China have filed charges against 900 individuals suspected of involvement in organized crime activities, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) announced on Tuesday.
The campaign targets a range of illegal activities widely referred to as “soft violence,” including extortion via nude chat interactions, illicit lending practices, unlawful debt collection, blackmail tied to public opinion manipulation, fraudulent compensation claims, and forced consumption schemes. Prosecutors have also been instructed to prioritize cases involving stalking, harassment, intimidation, threats, and blackmail.
In the two months following the campaign’s inception, authorities charged 25 individuals with illegal debt collection, 19 with extortion through nude chats, and eight with blackmail related to public opinion manipulation. Additionally, seven judicial personnel are under investigation for possible misconduct connected to these types of cases, signaling a commitment to eradicating protective networks within the judicial system, according to the SPP.
The Supreme People’s Court reinforced these actions by reporting that by the end of August, courts had sentenced 163 people affiliated with 12 criminal groups to prison terms ranging from 10 months to life imprisonment. These groups were primarily involved in exploiting online platforms and employing psychological manipulation to conduct illegal lending, debt collection, labor-related scams, and the exploitation of children.
Among the cases cited, a gang leader identified only by the surname Li received a prison sentence of nearly five years for using high-interest loans and threats to compel victims to repay debts, causing financial and physical harm. Another case involved a group led by a person surnamed Ma in Rizhao, Shandong province, which targeted construction workers by infiltrating job-hunting platforms. The gang extorted more than 200,000 yuan (approximately $29,758) through threats and incited conflicts, resulting in Ma’s six-year imprisonment.
Legal experts have noted a shift in organized crime tactics, adapting from overt violence to more covert and psychologically manipulative methods. Chen Kai, a criminal lawyer at the Nanjing office of Gaopeng & Partners, described how some groups leverage public opinion as a weapon by threatening to release damaging information unless ransoms are paid. "These actions may constitute extortion and public disturbance offenses, and are key targets of the current crackdown," Chen said.
Chen explained that offenders often gather compromising information on enterprises or individuals and demand payments in exchange for its suppression, resorting to online dissemination when demands are unmet. He underscored the importance of rigorous evidence collection and precise legal standards to differentiate between criminal conduct and lawful behavior, as well as distinguishing ordinary offenses from those involving organized crime, to ensure fairness and accuracy in prosecutions.
The top court has called on judicial bodies nationwide to maintain focus on dismantling organized crime, especially activities that incite public unrest and threaten social order, reinforcing the government’s commitment to curbing emerging forms of cyber-enabled criminality.