Key Takeaways:
Chinese tech giant Baidu is under fire after a doxxing incident involving the teenage daughter of Xie Guangjun, a Vice President in Baidu’s cloud division.
The controversy started when she leaked private details of several social media users while arguing online over a K-pop singer.
Screenshots shared by social media users show her allegedly disclosing real names, ID numbers, phone numbers, and even her father’s salary while making inflammatory statements such as:
The incident quickly went viral on Chinese platforms like Weibo and WeChat, leading to widespread speculation about whether she had accessed Baidu’s internal databases.
Public Backlash and Boycott Calls
Following the revelations, Chinese internet users expressed outrage, accusing Baidu of failing to protect user data.
This led to:
As criticism mounted, many users compared Baidu’s response to past corporate scandals, highlighting ongoing concerns about the company’s transparency and accountability.
Xie Guangjun’s Response: Attempt to Control the Narrative?
Facing intense public scrutiny, Xie Guangjun issued a statement on WeChat, denying that his daughter accessed Baidu’s databases.
He claimed the information came from an “overseas social networking site” and that she acted out of emotional distress.
His statement read: “The move has led to her own personal information being exposed. … As a minor, her mindset is still immature, and in a moment of impulse, she made a wrong decision that not only harmed others but also subjected herself to pressure and harm far beyond her age.” “We sincerely ask everyone to stop spreading related content and give her some space to reflect and grow.”
However, the response failed to calm public outrage, with many questioning the authenticity of his explanation. Critics argue that the personal information leaked was highly specific and would typically be stored on domestic platforms, not foreign sites.
The Timing Couldn’t Be Worse for Baidu
The doxxing scandal comes at a crucial moment for Baidu, which had just launched two new AI models in an effort to reassert dominance in China’s AI market.
Baidu’s stock surged 10% following the release of its ERNIE X1 reasoning model, designed to compete with DeepSeek R1.
However, the privacy controversy overshadowed Baidu’s AI progress, shifting the conversation from technological advancements to corporate accountability.
Baidu’s competitors, including Alibaba and Tencent, have surged ahead in market value, raising concerns that the scandal could further weaken Baidu’s position.
This incident follows previous PR crises for Baidu, including last year’s controversy when its former PR chief Qu Jing was dismissed after making insensitive remarks about harsh working conditions in China’s tech industry.
The scandal has put Baidu under intense scrutiny, with cybersecurity experts warning of potential legal and financial consequences:Potential Legal and Business Implications
To restore trust, experts suggest that Baidu must conduct an independent audit of its data security practices, implement stricter access controls for sensitive user information, and publicly address consumer concerns to prevent further damage to its reputation.
Baidu’s AI advancements were meant to boost its standing in China’s tech industry, but the doxxing scandal has placed the company under intense scrutiny.
The incident raises major concerns about data privacy, internal security, and corporate governance.
Public trust in Baidu’s ability to safeguard user data has been severely damaged, with boycotts and negative sentiment spreading rapidly.
Unless Baidu takes decisive action, the controversy could have long-term business repercussions, potentially benefiting its competitors.
As China’s tech landscape becomes increasingly competitive, companies like Baidu will need to prioritize transparency, ethics, and data security to maintain public trust and stay ahead in the AI race.
March 17, 2025: Baidu Unveils New Reasoning AI to Compete with DeepSeek! February 14, 2025: Baidu & Alibaba’s AI Battle Heats Up—Here’s What It Means for Investors! February 14, 2025: China’s DeepSeek AI Boom Puts Alibaba, Baidu’s AI Future in Spotlight!
For more news and insights, visit AI News on our website.
