The daughter of a vice president at China's largest search portal company, Baidu, has reportedly leaked the personal information of an internet user who criticized idol group IVE's Jang Won-young.
Chinese media outlets, including Nampukhabo, reported on the 18th that Xie Guangjun, the vice president of Baidu, stated the previous day on Weibo (China's version of X) that "his 13-year-old daughter failed to control her emotions after arguing with someone online and leaked another person's personal information on overseas social media accounts."
Xie noted he had spoken to his daughter and reprimanded her for her mistake, stating, "As a father, I failed to teach her to protect the privacy of others and individuals in a timely manner. I feel deeply regretful and solemnly apologize to those who have been hurt." He also urged internet users not to spread personal information.
However, Chinese netizens have pointed out that the larger issue is that Xie's daughter leaked personal information through Baidu's databases, highlighting the company's security vulnerabilities.
This incident sparked controversy on Weibo, a social networking service (SNS) in China, when a pregnant woman who posted critical remarks about Jang Won-young faced online attacks. The controversy intensified when it became known that the woman leading the attacks had illegally distributed personal information of nearly 100 internet users, including the pregnant woman.
The woman reportedly claimed she was in Canada and was not afraid of police reports, boasting about her father holding a high position at Baidu. However, other netizens found and posted online order forms, employment certificates, and pay stubs nearing 220,000 yuan (approximately 44 million won) with the name 'Xie Guangjun' on Weibo, revealing her identity as the vice president's daughter.
According to Chinese criminal law, selling or providing personal information to others can result in a prison sentence of up to 3 years, or detention and fines in severe cases. For publicly humiliating others online, individuals may face detention of up to 5 days or fines of less than 500 yuan (approximately 100,000 won).