Police are investigating the death of a girl who committed suicide following a torrent of abuse after being labelled a thief online. Personal details about the high school student from Lufeng city in South China's Guangdong province, including her address and phone number, were published online. Cai, a clothes shop owner who accused the girl on social media of being a thief is in custody.
The first thing that shop owner Ms. Cai did was to turn to the internet, when she found some items missing from her shop.
"I have sought the general public’s help online on earlier occasions to track down suspected thieves. It worked before and I received compensation. So, I think it is a good way to trace people." Cai said.
In the latest instance, Cai suspected An Qi, an 18-year old high school student of stealing clothes from her shop. She posted surveillance images of An Qi shopping, on the internet and asked people’s help in identifying her. Within a day, her personal information, including phone number and home address was public.
"I deleted the microblog soon after I got her information. I just wanted to find out who she is. I had no other intention." Cai said.
Cai said she called An Qi. And then on December the 4th, a day after An Qi committed suicide, Cai heard the news.
"I did not see this coming. I regret it so much. I just wanted to use the internet to locate someone." Cai said.
An Qi’s father has brought a lawsuit to the local people’s Court against Cai, accusing her of "Internet Defamation".
Cai is now in custody. Cai’s shop is no longer conducting any business. Many netizens have expressed their condolences onto An Qi’s microblog.
Thousands of people have left messages vouching for the right to privacy, and a call for the formulation of a law to ensure such incidents don’t happen in the future.
