Nan Fang Du Shi Bao·2025-12-18 04:15Core Viewpoint - Since July, companies like Xiaomi, Huawei's HarmonyOS, and Li Auto have reported a surge of negative articles targeting their automotive brands on a certain platform, leading to police intervention in a case involving organized misinformation against the new energy vehicle sector [1][3]. Group 1: Police Action - Yantai police have dismantled a gang that was orchestrating negative information about new energy vehicles, arresting 12 individuals and seizing over 1 million yuan in funds, while shutting down more than 8,000 accounts [1][4]. - The police investigation revealed that the negative content was highly organized, involving tactics such as distorting facts, impersonating consumers, and creating misleading experiences to damage brand reputations [3][4]. Group 2: Investigation Findings - The investigation identified over 3,000 negative articles that originated from accounts with short registration times and unusual activity levels, indicating a systematic operation likely involving "internet water armies" aiming to generate profit through traffic manipulation [3][4]. - The criminal group utilized technical tools to scrape keywords related to "Xiaomi," "Huawei," and "Li Auto," employing artificial intelligence to mass-produce low-quality, repetitive "internet garbage" solely for profit [4]. Group 3: Ongoing Efforts - Yantai police have announced plans to continue their series of special operations aimed at cleaning up the internet and combating misinformation [5].