CCTV exposes hidden rules of online comment control by online trolls: TV series and movies are reviewed before they are even seen

According to @CCTV.com, two TV dramas have recently seen the absurd phenomenon of advanced reviews. In the short review area of ​​a well-known rating platform, a large number of ratings poured in before the scheduled release date, and these short reviews showed a polarized state of one star and five stars. Reporters found that often the price of 1 yuan or even a few dimes can attract a large number of water army orders to control reviews.

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According to the report, many people are used to rating and commenting on online platforms after watching TV series, which is also convenient for netizens who have not watched them yet to provide reference. However, have you heard of a large number of ratings appearing online before a TV series is aired? Recently, two TV series have appeared in succession with the absurd scene of "advanced comments".

On December 1, a costume drama was launched on an Internet platform. Due to some reasons, the official launch time of the drama was nearly an hour later than the original "official announcement" time. However, in the short review section of a well-known rating platform, a large number of ratings were concentrated at the original launch time, and these short reviews showed a polarized state of one star and five stars.

In a suspense web drama that premiered on December 5, after the first two episodes were aired before the female lead appeared, a large number of comments questioning her acting skills and lines and one-star short reviews also emerged on the online social networking platform. The "advance reviews" phenomenon in the two TV series was questioned by netizens and the media as "water army" to brush up the ratings and control the reviews.

In February this year, a netizen left a message on the official website of the State Administration for Market Regulation, asking: "Is it legal to control the reviews of TV dramas?" In response, the official said that "controlling reviews" is suspected of violating the Anti-Unfair Competition Law, and that sufficient evidence can be submitted to report to the market supervision and management departments at or above the county level, or you can directly call 12315 or log in to the 12315 Internet platform to file a complaint.

Zhu Wei, associate professor and researcher at the Communication Law Center of China University of Political Science and Law, said in an interview: The main responsibility of the platform should be made very specific. For example, if you know that others are engaging in this kind of "water army", then you must have necessary measures to filter out the "water army" stuff.

In the process of controlling comments, these "water armies" are engaged in some illegal business activities. On the surface, they are infringing on the normal communication order and market operation order. In serious cases, they may involve a special crime under the criminal law called illegal business operation crime, and may also be regulated by criminal law.