Eradicate grounds for rumors not only rumor makers

Strengthening administration of the public sphere on the Internet will guarantee the people to better exercise their rights to speech and knowledge, says an article in China Business News. Excerpt:

The public security authority of Beijing cracked down on some Internet publicity companies that made illegal profits from fabricating rumors. As long as the authority cleans up the online environment according to the law, it will become more orderly.

The evidence shown by the public security authority in Beijing indicates how seriously the suspected companies and criminals misled the public opinion by fabricating many rumors on hot topics.

It is absolutely necessary and right for the authority to take this action. But the government should also make its information disclosure system more efficient and the processing of certain issues concerning public interest more transparent.

The best way to eradicate such rumors is not only to crack down on the rumor fabricators, but also to eradicate the grounds for the rumors.