Abstract

Digital platforms enable new forms of harassment that transcend borders, complicate legal enforcement, and harm both victims and the social order. This presentation examines conceptual challenges in defining “cyber violence” and analyzes contemporary regulatory approaches in China and Australia. The study identifies three key trends reshaping cyber violence in China: (1) The weaponization of fan culture, where celebrity fandoms orchestrate coordinated attacks against perceived rivals; (2) the professionalization of harassment through paid “trolling teams” that exploit platform algorithms; and (3) the normalization of doxxing (“开盒”) as a tool for both moral policing and entertainment. The research demonstrates how platform design choices—especially engagement-driven recommendation systems—amplify harms by rewarding divisive content.

Bio

Alexander Trauth-Goik is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Department of East Asian Studies, University of Vienna, where his research examines trends in digital governance in China. He is currently working as part of a European Research Council-funded project investigating the development of China’s Social Credit System and related digital governance projects. His interdisciplinary research has been published in leading journals, including IEEE Technology and Society Magazine, Journal of Contemporary China, World Futures Journal, and Surveillance & Society.