BEIJING — The private eyes in China's most famous detective agency rarely sleep, are relentless in pursuing their prey and can put Interpol and Homeland Security to shame. Oh, and they work for free.
But before you think about hiring them, there's a catch. The detectives are all online: millions of people working together as a "human flesh search engine," a bizarre term meant to capture the mix of cutting-edge and old-as-the-hills tactics used in a growing number of Internet vigilante campaigns here.
And once again they have found their target, fueling a scandal that has captivated millions while underscoring the anger and lack of trust many feel toward officials, police and the law.
In late October, a video surfaced on the Internet showing an unnamed official at a seafood restaurant in the city of Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, facing off against a family. The video, widely distributed on the Internet, shows the official talking, pushing and yelling at family members after allegedly grabbing an 11-year-old girl and trying to force her into a restroom.
"I did it, so what?" the official says, according to an accompanying transcript. "How much money do you want? Give me a price. I will pay it!"
Then pointing at the girl's father, he reportedly adds, "Do you know who I am? I was sent here by the Transportation Ministry in Beijing. I have the same seniority as your mayor. So what if I grabbed a little child's neck?"
The video enraged Internet users, setting into motion the human flesh search engine. These investigations -- some would say witch hunts -- include the use of databases, photo analysis, search engines, social networking sites and hacking into online accounts. This is complemented and often trumped by kibitzing on a massive scale in a culture where personal connections are key to getting things done.
"With that kind of speed and manpower, sooner or later someone gets lucky," said Liang Shuxin, 33, a blogger and deputy editor of the popular online Tianya forum, who has participated in human flesh searches.
In short order, the white-shirted, pot-bellied official on the video was identified as Lin Jiaxiang, 58, party secretary of the Shenzhen Maritime Administration.
Lin was subsequently fired, his reputation left in tatters.
"This case is a perfect storm," said Xiao Qiang, director of the China Internet Project at UC Berkeley. "You have a scandal, conflict, sex and power, plus video footage. And it also says a lot about the system."
