Compiled from The Paper
 
Case review
Recently, a history teacher surnamed Liu from Xinzheng City No. 3 Middle School in Henan Province tragically passed away at home after teaching an online class. According to videos and images provided by Teacher Liu's family, during the online class, someone deliberately played harsh music in the livestream room, malicious threats were made by disruptors, and various offensive remarks were heard. Currently, the Xinzheng City Public Security Bureau, Education Bureau, and Cyberspace Administration have formed a joint investigation team, and the results will be announced to the public.

 

Online, the act of invading and disrupting online classes is called "online class bombing" or "online class invasion." Participants in the online class leak the meeting ID and password, after which disruptors systematically "invade" the online classroom, using extreme methods such as forcibly taking over the screen, flooding with harassing messages, insulting teachers and students, and playing inappropriate videos to maliciously disrupt the teaching order. These "invaders" are also referred to as "bombers."
 
 
《[1] The People's Republic of China刑法》
Article 246 [Crime of Insult] [Crime of Defamation]
Whoever publicly insults another person by violence or other methods, or fabricates facts to defame another person, if the circumstances are serious, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, public surveillance, or deprivation of political rights.
The crime mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be handled only upon complaint, except where it seriously endangers social order or national interests.
Where an act prescribed in the first paragraph is committed through information networks, and the victim files a complaint with a people's court but has genuine difficulty in providing evidence, the people's court may request public security organs to provide assistance.
 
 
Article 293 [Crime of Picking Quarrels and Provoking Trouble]
Whoever commits any of the following acts of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, thereby disrupting social order, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than five years, criminal detention or public surveillance:
……
(4) Creating disturbances in public places, causing severe disorder in public places.
Whoever gathers others to repeatedly commit the acts mentioned in the preceding paragraph, seriously disrupting social order, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than five years but not more than ten years, and may also be fined.
 
 
Article 364 [Crime of Disseminating Obscene Materials; Crime of Organizing the Broadcast of Obscene Audio-Visual Products]
Whoever disseminates obscene books, periodicals, films, audio-visual products, pictures, or other obscene materials, if the circumstances are serious, shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than two years, criminal detention, or public surveillance.
Organizing the screening of obscene films, videos, or other audiovisual materials shall be punished with up to three years of fixed-term imprisonment, criminal detention, or surveillance, and a fine; if the circumstances are serious, the punishment shall be three to ten years of fixed-term imprisonment and a fine.
Producing or duplicating obscene films, videos, or other audiovisual materials for organized screening shall be punished more severely in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph.
Disseminating obscene materials to minors under the age of 18 shall be punished more severely.

 
 

 
[1] The author's perspective
A teacher who was tirelessly dedicated to teaching passed away after such a violent online class, which we neither predicted nor can accept. Online classes, as a form of education during special times, should also maintain classroom discipline and comply with school regulations. However, some students, out of a disruptive mindset, made a ruckus in class. Perhaps they were young and ignorant, but disrupting classroom discipline is not only irresponsible for their own studies but also for other classmates. What these students may not have realized is that their constant verbal abuse toward the teacher might have already infringed upon the teacher's reputation and dignity. Such behavior is no longer just a joke but could constitute the crimes of insult and defamation under the Criminal Law.
 
Even worse, there are now groups specifically helping students disrupt online classes, even forming an industrial chain. Students provide them with their online class account and password, and when class time comes, these groups enter the classroom and cause trouble in various ways, such as making loud noises or playing inappropriate videos. This shows that what seems like a prank actually violates multiple laws. According to relevant judicial interpretations, cyberspace is also considered a public place, so disrupting public order in an online classroom may also involve the crime of picking quarrels and provoking trouble. Regardless of what charges may ultimately apply, children should focus on learning in class. The consequences of such "pranks" are not something you can bear.