Cai Jing Wang·2025-12-17 13:14Core Viewpoint - A criminal group has been manipulating over 8,000 accounts to spread negative information about companies like Xiaomi, Huawei, and Li Auto, primarily to generate revenue from platform traffic [1][2]. Group 1: Criminal Activities - Since July, companies such as Xiaomi, Huawei, and Li Auto reported a surge in negative articles targeting their brands, indicating a highly organized effort to defame them [1]. - The negative content includes fabricated consumer experiences and exaggerated issues, significantly harming the companies' reputations and disrupting their operations [1][5]. - Investigators identified over 3,000 negative articles linked to accounts with short registration times, unusual activity levels, and dispersed IP addresses, suggesting a systematic operation by a "network water army" [5][7]. Group 2: Law Enforcement Actions - A special task force was established by the Yantai Public Security Bureau to tackle the issue, leading to the arrest of 12 suspects and the seizure of over 1 million yuan in illicit funds [2][7]. - The operation resulted in the shutdown of more than 8,000 illegal online accounts, marking a comprehensive crackdown on this new type of "network water army" criminal group [2][7]. - The task force analyzed over 80,000 pieces of online information and traced over 100,000 financial transactions to clarify the group's structure and operational processes [7].