BYD sues 37 influencers over online defamation of the brand

BYD has said that it has faced repeated online attacks in recent years that involve false and misleading information.

Chinese automaker BYD has taken 37 influencers to court for online defamation. Additionally, it has put another 126 content creators on a watch list under internal monitoring for alleged disinformation and damaging content.

The carmaker created a “News Anti-Fraud Office” a few years ago and it’s encouraging people to send tips about potentially damaging content. Also, as part of a long-term financial incentive program, BYD is offering rewards ranging from 50,000 to 5 million yuan (approx. 6,900 to 690,000 USD) for verified leads related to suspected online disinformation targeting the company.

BYD has said that it has faced repeated online attacks in recent years that involve false and misleading information. The carmaker added that this has harmed its brand image. While BYD has described these incidents as “organised” or “coordinated,” it has not provided public evidence supporting the coordination of such efforts.

Many court rulings were cited as examples. A Weibo user identified as “Zhou Haoran Sean” was found guilty of defamation after accusing BYD of manipulating online influencers to disparage competitors. A court ordered a public apology and a payment of 100,000 yuan (approx. 13,800 USD). In another case, a WeChat Video account, “AutoBiBiBi,” was similarly ordered to apologize and pay 100,000 yuan in damages after posting content deemed insulting to BYD and its executives.

Many lawsuits are still ongoing in court. While some decisions have been ruled in favour of BYD’s claims, others are still under investigation and remain unsolved.

Source: CarNewsChina