Today, CCTV's renowned program 'Focus Interview' shed light on the rampant cybercrime plaguing the automotive sector. The report detailed a range of illicit activities, including the spread of online rumors, orchestrated offline smear campaigns, targeted attacks on automotive firms, and coercion tactics aimed at car owners. The new energy vehicle (NEV) industry has emerged as a particularly vulnerable target.

Lei Jun, a prominent figure in the tech and automotive circles, reposted the report and raised a pertinent question: When will the relentless wave of black PR (public relations) tactics and the operations of online "black troops" (paid trolls or propagandists) finally subside?

The 'Focus Interview' report highlighted how influential online personalities are leveraging their reach to tarnish the reputations of automotive companies. Moreover, it revealed that some accounts, despite being banned, resurface under new aliases to continue their malicious activities. Cybercriminals are also exploiting AI technology to mass-produce false information, disseminating rumors at crucial junctures, such as during new car launches, to maximize impact.

Alarmingly, the reach of cybercrime has extended beyond companies to ordinary car owners, who now find themselves ensnared in this web of deceit. Furthermore, there have been documented cases of automotive companies engaging in mutual attacks, exacerbating the industry's woes.

In response to these escalating threats, relevant national authorities have initiated special crackdown operations, which have yielded promising, phased results in curbing these malicious activities.