The Ministry¹ of Public Security (MPS) said last Saturday it has closed 31 websites and 1,100 social media accounts suspected of engaging in trolling activities or posting messages for extortion since the start of this year.

公安部上周六表示，今年以来，该部已关闭涉嫌参与“网络水军”行为或发布勒索信息的31家网站和1100个社交媒体账号。

The police also busted² 28 cases involving unlawful activities of paid online trolls, or ghostwriters hired to post online content, and arrested 67 suspects after a series of operations, said the ministry, adding that it found more than 80 enterprises and organizations were blackmailed³.

公安部称，警方还侦破涉嫌在网络上有偿炒作争议性话题的非法行为或雇用写手在线发布内容的案件28起，在一系列的行动中抓获嫌疑人67名，发现被敲诈勒索的企事业单位80余家。

In a statement, the MPS accused the suspects of engaging in extortion, fraud, running illegal businesses, libel, and violation⁴ of personal information.

在一份声明中，公安部指控这些嫌疑人从事勒索、欺诈、非法经营、诽谤和侵犯个人信息。

Some suspects, by using social media platforms, such as Sina Weibo and WeChat, as well as setting up websites overseas, organized large-scale operations in paid post-writing, post-deletion and other activities, said the MPS.

公安部表示，部分嫌疑人通过新浪微博、微信等社交媒体平台以及设立海外网站，组织大规模有偿撰写帖文、有偿删帖等行为。

The police found that some social-media account operators even fabricated trumped-up accusations⁵ against organizations and individuals, posted negative information online and demanded a "ransom-like" fee in exchange for post-deletion services.

警方发现，部分社交媒体账号经营者甚至针对组织和个人捏造不实指控，在网上发布负面信息，要求对方支付一笔“类似赎金”的费用以换取删帖服务。

The ministry said among the nabbed suspects, some have been given a jail term while some cases have been transferred to judicial⁶ organs.

该部门称，被捕涉案人员中有部分人已被判处有期徒刑，一些案件已移交司法机关。