CNBC AI News | Updated May 22 – Chinese social media influencer Xiaosuanmiao Zhang, known for tech commentary across platforms including Weibo and Douyin (TikTok), has been barred from accruing new followers following a court ruling upholding Xiaomi’s defamation claims. Weibo’s notification stated the account was restricted for “violating platform policies or laws.”
The controversy traces back to August 2024, when Xiaomi’s legal team disclosed a first-instance judgment in a high-profile case against the blogger. The Beijing court found Zhang liable for “defamatory and slanderous content” damaging Xiaomi’s corporate reputation, ordering the deletion of offending posts, a seven-day public apology to the smartphone giant, and compensation of ¥56,595 (approximately $7,800) for economic losses.
The case coincides with China’s landmark Private Sector Promotion Law, enacted May 20, 2024, which codifies protections for entrepreneurs’ operational autonomy and reputational rights. Chapter VII explicitly shields private enterprises from defamation, a provision legal experts say reflects growing state emphasis on stabilizing business environments amid economic headwinds.
State media CCTV recently criticized “toxic online practices” where “self-styled ethics police weaponize nationalism to smear legally compliant companies” – a thinly veiled reference to influencers monetizing anti-corporate rhetoric. The commentary further condemned inconsistent regional governance, where sudden policy shifts create uncertainty for businesses, noting: “From warm welcomes to hostile takebacks, these erratic maneuvers demand higher-level legal frameworks.”
Analysts interpret Xiaomi’s legal victory and the new legislation as dual signals: Corporations now wield sharper tools against reputational risks, while regulators aim to curb “digital vigilantism” threatening China’s innovation ecosystem. As web platforms face mounting pressure to police content, the ruling sets precedent for tech leaders to defend brand integrity in court – a trend likely amplified by the Private Sector Promotion Law’s mandate.
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