"In the Internet era, information spreads very quickly. Just like spilled water, it cannot be taken back at all. Since 2005, when blogs began to become popular, the damage from rumors has risen significantly. From micro blogs to WeChat, the social influence of some individual accounts has continued to increase and the damage from rumors has become greater and greater."

Liu Zhengrong, director of Internet News Coordination Bureau under the State Internet Information Office, said in an interview on Monday, adding that online rumors have become a serious social problem and it has become a common call to fight against such rumors.

(China Daily USA 05/28/2013 page3)