In China, fib online and find out
The police are punishing those who engage in even idle boasts
Last month a 33-year-old woman in Xi’an, in central China, posted a video on social media that showed snowflakes falling on the ancient city. It was early in the year for such weather, so netizens shared the video widely. But it turned out to be fake. When China’s police found out, they detained the woman, accusing her of being an “evil influence” on society.
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This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Fib online and find out”
From the October 19th 2024 edition
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