A Weibo user sparked online outrage after allegedly doxing multiple Chinese netizens who had criticized her comments about K-pop star Jang Won-young. The user reportedly obtained personal information about other internet users, including details of a pregnant woman, through illegal data scraping and incited online harassment against them. Internet sleuths later uncovered the user’s identity as the 13-year-old daughter of Baidu Vice President Xie Guangjun by tracing an employment certificate belonging to her father that she had posted online.
Why it matters: Baidu’s official response showed a troubling reality: the severity of data leaks has exceeded many people’s expectations. Unlike typical data breaches, this case involved a minor, raising concerns about the increasing risks of cyberbullying and information security lapses among younger internet users.
Details: On March 19, Baidu issued an official statement on its WeChat account, addressing the controversy surrounding Xie’s daughter and details of the information leak, showing its attitude towards stealing and exposing personal data.
- “Doxing” (known in Chinese as kaǐhé or “unboxing“) means maliciously publishing IDs, addresses and social media accounts.
- Baidu’s investigation claimed the minor obtained information from overseas “social engineering databases” – illegal compilations of personal data – contradicting online rumors that she accessed Baidu’s systems.
- Previously, a screenshot circulated online claimed that the individual admitted to receiving a database from her Baidu executive parent. The company has denied this allegation.
- One of the victims in the incident filed a police report on March 18, rejecting Xie’s apology via WeChat Moments and demanding a public apology. At least two victims have reported the case to authorities.
Context: Xie Guangjun is a vice president at Baidu’s Intelligent Cloud Business Group (ACG). According to Baidu’s promotion records, he was promoted to this position in the company’s computing network division in 2021.
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