Nan Fang Du Shi Bao·2025-12-18 01:39Core Viewpoint - A criminal gang involved in the organized dissemination of negative information about electric vehicle brands, including Xiaomi, Huawei, and Li Auto, has been dismantled by the Yantai police after a four-month investigation, resulting in the arrest of 12 individuals and the shutdown of over 8,000 accounts [1][2][3]. Group 1 - Multiple companies, including Xiaomi, Huawei's HarmonyOS, and Li Auto, reported a surge of negative articles targeting their brands on a specific platform [1][2]. - The negative content exhibited organized characteristics, including malicious defamation, identity impersonation, and the amplification of isolated issues through manipulated videos, severely harming brand reputation and disrupting normal business operations [2]. - The Yantai police identified over 3,000 negative articles linked to a group of suspicious accounts with short registration times and unusual activity, indicating a premeditated operation by a "network water army" to generate profit through traffic manipulation [2][3]. Group 2 - The special investigation team analyzed over 80,000 pieces of online information and traced 100,000 financial transactions to clarify the gang's organizational structure and operational processes [3]. - Following the collection of evidence, the police conducted simultaneous operations in Yantai and Liaocheng, successfully apprehending 12 suspects, seizing over 1 million yuan in illicit funds, and shutting down more than 8,000 illegal accounts [3]. - Yantai police announced plans to continue special operations aimed at cleaning up the internet and combating misinformation [4].