Baidu has taken decisive action against internal misconduct, with its Professional Ethics Committee issuing a Q3 2026 report detailing the disciplinary measures for 41 individuals. The crackdown targets a range of violations, primarily focusing on employees who exploited their positions for personal gain or engaged in fraudulent activities involving company expenses.
Widespread Violations Uncovered
The internal notification, shared with all employees on October 9th, revealed that the 41 individuals held accountable spanned various roles within the company, including full-time employees, outsourced personnel, and interns. The investigations uncovered two main categories of offenses:
- Exploiting positional advantages for undue economic benefits: This involved leveraging their roles and responsibilities to illicitly profit.
- Falsification and misappropriation of company expenses: This category covers deceptive practices aimed at defrauding the company financially.
For those involved in criminal activities, Baidu has confirmed that relevant individuals have been handed over to judicial authorities for legal proceedings. The remaining employees have faced consequences ranging from termination of employment to being returned to their outsourcing agencies or receiving internal disciplinary actions.
Examples of Misconduct
The internal report highlighted specific cases to illustrate the severity of the violations. For instance, several former employees from the University Cooperation Department and the MEG Sales Business Platform were cited for using their positions to obtain improper economic benefits. These individuals have been dismissed by the company and, where applicable, are facing legal action.
Similarly, employees from various departments, including MEG Encyclopedia Product Department, ACG Intelligent Transportation Business Development Department, and IDG Autonomous Driving Business Unit, were named for similar offenses or for engaging in fraudulent activities and misappropriating company funds. In some instances, individuals who had already left the company were also implicated and are subject to legal investigation.
“We uphold a strict attitude towards those who betray and trample on Baidu’s clean and upright cultural values and violate professional ethical norms. For personnel suspected of criminal offenses, judicial authorities will handle them according to the law.”
The announcement emphasized Baidu’s commitment to maintaining a culture of integrity. The company stated its serious stance against any behavior that undermines its core values and professional ethics. Employees found to be in violation of these principles, especially those involved in criminal activities, are subject to severe penalties, including termination and legal prosecution.
Previous Crackdowns
This latest report follows a similar announcement in April of the same year, where Baidu disclosed that it had investigated and processed 144 employees for violations in 2025. Of those, 33 were dealt with by judicial authorities, while 111 received internal company penalties. This pattern indicates a sustained effort by Baidu to enforce its code of conduct and maintain a transparent and ethical business environment.
The proactive measures taken by Baidu underscore the importance of corporate governance and ethical compliance in the competitive tech industry. By publicly addressing these issues, the company aims to deter future misconduct and reinforce its commitment to fostering a trustworthy workplace.
