Internet rumours with Chinese characteristics

Internet rumours are a global popular culture phenomenon. For instance, the claims that Barack Obama was not born in America persisted throughout his presidency. Despite the technological means used to control the Internet and the legislation against the spread of rumours there are many false stories on the Internet in China and removing them is a full-time task. Although the quote, ‘When you open the window, some flies may come in’ 打开窗户，苍蝇可能会飞进 (Deng Xiaoping on the Open Door Policy), refers to the opening up of China in 1978, it is still relevant as a response to the consequences of the Internet and the way it is managed. This article investigates the discourses surrounding the regulations about the spreading of rumours and argues that the regulations are used to maintain control over the narrative of events so as to preserve and reaffirm the government’s legitimacy to rule. The legislation is used as a justification to censor information that the government deems sensitive and this has been used as a reason to imprison activists and to shape popular culture. The regulations are also used to prevent widespread public panic or unrest, as was the case in 2011, when there was panic buying of salt thought to give protection from nuclear fallout that was rumoured to be heading to China from Fukushima. The application of the law can at times be arbitrary and planted rumours are used during factional fighting that is played out in the media and online. Xi Jinping has also used the tightening of rumour regulations as a part of factional fighting and in his consolidation of power. The following case studies act as empirical data to further illustrate the ways in which rumour and the legislative attempts to control it are used to shape Chinese cyberspace and online popular culture.