The internet, while offering communication and information sharing benefits, has also led to the rise of cyber violence (CV), defined as internet-related behaviors that promote violence or inflammatory language. CV prevalence is considerable globally, particularly among youth. Social media significantly correlates with CV, reducing moral sensitivity and increasing its visibility, especially against women. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated CV, with studies showing increased prevalence linked to isolation and loneliness. This study focuses on a specific form of CV: route information disclosure-caused CV (RIDCCV), stemming from government publication of infected individuals' travel routes. While necessary for pandemic control, this practice increases the risk of information leakage and subsequent CV, especially when non-standard operations occur in government departments. Existing studies have noted abuse and discrimination against infected individuals due to information disclosure, often fueled by perceived threat and facilitated by social media's anonymity. However, few studies have directly examined RIDCCV. This study aims to address this gap by analyzing real cases of RIDCCV in China to identify its characteristics and propose solutions for mitigating its occurrence.

The literature extensively documents the prevalence and impact of cyber violence (CV), particularly its association with social media. Studies highlight the correlation between increased social media use and heightened cyberbullying victimization rates. Research also points to a reduced sense of moral responsibility in online interactions, contributing to CV incidents. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased CV, likely due to heightened stress, isolation, and uncertainty. Several studies have explored the connection between the pandemic, cyberbullying, and mental health outcomes like depression. While the necessity of disclosing route information of infected individuals for effective pandemic control is acknowledged, its potential to lead to discrimination and abuse has been highlighted. However, the specific focus on RIDCCV and its dynamics on social media remains limited.

This study employed a mixed-methods approach. First, 13 real-world cases of RIDCCV in China between November 2020 and November 2021 were identified through continuous monitoring of social media. Three doctoral students assessed each case for six features: violation of epidemic prevention regulations, being the first locally confirmed case, personal information leakage, nicknames used, rumors, and moral criticism. Six cases with a higher volume of online posts were selected for in-depth analysis, categorized into groups based on whether the infected individual violated regulations. Data were collected from Weibo (Chinese Twitter) using the Octopus web crawler, focusing on original posts and comments. Data cleaning involved removing incomplete or irrelevant data. Sentiment analysis using bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) was conducted to assess public sentiment. Topic clustering using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) identified themes in online posts. Social network analysis, focusing on the relationships between users based on comments, was performed using a weighted PageRank algorithm to determine influential users. Users were categorized into mainstream/official media, influential we-media, we-media, and ordinary users based on Weibo profiles.

Analysis of 13 RIDCCV cases revealed that 11 involved individuals who were the first locally confirmed cases in their area, and 11 experienced personal information leaks. Rumors and moral criticism were also frequently observed. The six cases selected for in-depth analysis showed a predominantly negative public sentiment towards the events, ranging from 62.54% to 85.66% negative comments. However, the focus of the negative comments differed between cases where individuals violated regulations and those who did not. In cases of regulation violations, condemnation of the individual's actions dominated. Conversely, in cases without violations, the negative sentiment was often directed towards those perpetrating cyber violence or spreading rumors. A comparison of two cases occurring around the same time revealed a shift in public opinion over time. Initially, focus was on the victim's actions, but later, criticism shifted towards those spreading misinformation and engaging in cyber violence. Social network analysis showed that mainstream media and influential we-media played a significant role in information dissemination, consistently ranking high in PageRank scores.

The findings highlight the complex interplay between public health measures, individual behavior, and online social dynamics. While government transparency through route information disclosure aids pandemic control, it necessitates robust mechanisms to safeguard privacy and prevent malicious exploitation. The study's findings suggest that intentional harm is a crucial factor driving RIDCCV. Public anxiety during the pandemic, coupled with the anonymity offered by social media, created an environment conducive to moral judgment and online attacks. The identification of influential we-media and mainstream media underscores the crucial role of information management in shaping public discourse and mitigating CV.

This study provides valuable insights into the nature and dynamics of RIDCCV. The findings emphasize the importance of balancing public health needs with individual privacy rights. Future research could explore the impact of various patient characteristics, analyze RIDCCV across different pandemic phases, and investigate how inter-departmental collaborations can strengthen CV governance. The recommendations—optimizing information disclosure systems, addressing public anxiety, and leveraging media for responsible reporting—offer practical strategies for governments to mitigate RIDCCV and maintain public trust during emergencies.

This study is limited by its focus on a specific period and geographic location (China). The findings may not be generalizable to other contexts. Further research should consider a broader range of patient characteristics and pandemic stages to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon. The study also did not explicitly analyze the specific types of government departments involved or the role of different crisis phases in shaping the response to CV.