A man has been administratively detained and fined for fabricating and spreading false information about the CATL Yibin base. The online rumor alleged that a team leader at the base prevented general workers from using the restroom, leading to an employee’s psychological breakdown and an extreme reaction.
Rumor Mill Exposed
According to a report from Yibin Sanjiang Public Security via the WeChat official account, the individual identified as Lin (male, 33 years old) created and disseminated the baseless claims on a social media platform on September 9th. The fabricated story suggested an employee at a ‘certain enterprise’s Yibin base’ was insulted by management, causing them to suffer a psychological breakdown and resort to drastic measures.
The rumor quickly gained traction, spreading across various online platforms and sparking widespread discussion among netizens. However, upon investigation, the police confirmed that the company and the incident location mentioned in the report were inaccurate.
Motive and Consequences
Investigators found that Lin’s motive for creating the false narrative was to gain attention and cultivate a persona of possessing insider knowledge of the industry. His actions were deemed to be a deliberate fabrication of facts to disrupt public order.
Consequently, the Sanjiang New Area Public Security Bureau has imposed administrative detention and a fine on Lin, in accordance with the ‘Law of the People’s Republic of China on Public Security Administration Punishments.’
CATL’s Previous Statement
This incident echoes a previous report by Caiwen, where a representative from CATL had addressed similar allegations. At that time, the company stated that the claims were malicious fabrications and that the individuals depicted in the video were not associated with CATL. The company had also reported the matter to the police for investigation.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of spreading misinformation online. Authorities are urging the public to exercise caution and verify information before sharing it, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public order and preventing the spread of harmful rumors.
