At 2 a.m., the office area of the Cybersecurity Protection Detachment of the Pingliang Municipal Public Security Bureau in Gansu Province was brightly lit.
The cool blue light of monitors reflected on the officers' faces as massive streams of data scrolled continuously across the screens. A clue about a leak of citizens' personal information hidden behind the internet gradually emerged through countless rounds of comparison and cross-matching. The clicking of keyboards and the low murmur of analysis intertwined into the most familiar background sound of that late night.
There was no heart-pounding drama of a frontline arrest, no noisy clamor of a crime scene. The battlefield of cyber police hides behind these computers, in a digital space woven from 0s and 1s. This was just another ordinary night in the daily work of the cyber security officers of the Pingliang Municipal Public Security Bureau, a vivid microcosm of their drive in the "Clean Net 2026" special campaign, and a vivid footnote to how this team safeguards a clean cyberspace with loyalty and professionalism.
The Cybersecurity Protection Detachment of the Pingliang Municipal Public Security Bureau traces its origins to the Network Monitoring Section established in 2003 and was formally renamed and reorganized in 2018. More than 20 years on, this team has grown into a "vanguard company" in combating cybercrime. From mobile terminals to the data cloud, from clue discovery to special-case breakthroughs, the detachment has always adhered to a "zero tolerance" attitude in taking on all kinds of online illegal and criminal activities, persistently built up cybersecurity defenses with a "nail-driving" spirit, and steadily purified the online ecological environment with "embroidery" finesse, using solid data and work results to protect this invisible position.
From "Outstanding Youth Collective of the Pingliang Municipal Public Security Organs" to "Outstanding Youth Collective of the Gansu Provincial Public Security Organs," behind these honors lies the day-after-day dedication of all cyber security police officers and auxiliary police.
Playing the Game of Chess Well, Pooling Strength Through Region-Wide Coordination
The Pingliang Municipal Public Security Bureau held a promotion meeting for the "Clean Net 2026" special campaign (Photo by Zhang Peng). Cybersecurity has never been a "one-man show" for the cyber security police alone. At the very start of the "Clean Net 2026" special campaign, the Pingliang Municipal Public Security Bureau elevated this chess game to a bureau-wide level and incorporated it into the city's "big plate" of key work, convening three promotion meetings to schedule and deploy it, and building a work pattern in which "leaders in charge personally take charge and police departments coordinate in handling matters."
Only when mechanisms run smoothly can duties be performed effectively and results be achieved on the ground. The municipal bureau broke down barriers between police departments, established a joint network combat mechanism of "cyber security leading, multi-police coordination, and region-wide collaboration," took as its guide the building of a new policing operation model of "professionalism + mechanisms + big data," aimed at advancing the governance of the online ecosystem, coordinated all kinds of resources and forces across regions, departments, and police types, closely centered on the overall requirements of "ten strict crackdowns, four focuses, and three reinforcements," and comprehensively carried out special crackdowns, case-type crackdowns, full-chain crackdowns, and cluster crackdowns. It pushed forward the close connection and efficient operation of online and offline strike, prevention, management, control, governance, and publicity work, continuously enhanced the comprehensive capability to crack down on and govern online illegal and criminal activities, and steadily increased the people's sense of gain, happiness, and security.
"The more we work on the key online matters, the better we do; the more we tamp down the basic foundations of the network, the more solid they become, and the results of comprehensive governance stand out even more," said Yao Boyu, head of the cyber security detachment of the Pingliang Municipal Public Security Bureau. Since the special campaign began, the detachment has analyzed the online situation daily, summarized case progress weekly, and reviewed stage results monthly. "Clean Net" has become a protracted war and a systemic war.
Wielding the "Clean Net Sword" Well, Striking Hard to Protect People's Livelihood
Not long ago, a certain company illegally packaged and leaked personal information such as users' names and contact numbers to a real estate company. Wherever online illegal and criminal activities extend, the edge of the crackdown points directly there. After receiving the relevant clue, the detachment immediately set up a special task force and joined with the cyber security brigade of the local sub-bureau to carry out cybersecurity law enforcement supervision and inspection of the company involved, while simultaneously conducting a "one case, two investigations" into the company's implementation of its main responsibilities for network and data security, and pursuing accountability accurately in accordance with the law and regulations, forming a strong legal deterrent.
The handling of this case sounded a data security alarm bell for units across various industries, and they carried out self-inspections and self-corrections one after another and proactively contacted the cyber security department for guidance. One case turned into an open class on data security for the whole city, laying a solid foundation for escorting the healthy development of enterprises.
Since 2026, the detachment has strictly implemented the deployment requirements of higher-level public security organs and launched fierce attacks on all kinds of internet-related illegal and criminal activities. It sorted out more than 500 case clues, guided the investigation and solving of more than 20 criminal cases, and arrested more than 40 criminal suspects. In the special work of combating "Mark Six" online gambling, the detachment built data models, conducted precise analysis, dug deep into criminal clues, sorted out 25 gambling-related clues involving 11 cities and prefectures in the province, successfully launched a provincial cluster campaign, filed 12 cases, and dealt with more than 20 people involved. Relying on solid clue analysis and case investigation capabilities, the detachment's network case brigade was designated by the Cybersecurity Protection Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security as one of the case teams in the national public security cyber security police support system.
Building a Solid "Firewall," Removing Hidden Dangers Through Source Governance
Cyber police conduct cybersecurity supervision and inspection of enterprises in accordance with the law (Photo by Liu Haohao). "Finding out the full inventory is the first step in building a solid cybersecurity defense line," said Chen Jiahui, an officer of the detachment. One thing the detachment does year-round is take stock of the network assets in its jurisdiction. All information systems, network applications, mini-programs, and mobile apps are registered and cataloged one by one and managed by category and level.
Network assets are far more than just a few servers. Information collection behind residential access control, supermarket checkout, and QR-code ordering, as well as electronic screens in street squares, are all included in the ledger. The detachment also introduced a dynamic update mechanism, reviewed once each quarter, promptly brought newly launched systems under management, and promptly canceled discontinued systems. Only when the inventory is clear can protection have a target.
The detachment joined with relevant departments to go deep into the front line to investigate problems and set rules. For high-risk hidden dangers discovered, it immediately issued rectification notices, clarified time limits and standards, and followed up with re-inspections until the loop was closed. At the same time, in some key industry units, "cyber security police offices" were established, and business backbones were selected to serve as "escort police officers," providing one-on-one door-to-door services. When enterprises encounter cybersecurity difficulties, they can reach someone with a single phone call; policy interpretation, hidden danger warnings, and rectification guidance all have on-site follow-up; and before new systems are launched and put into operation, the security review threshold is strictly controlled. The "cyber security police office" delivers security guarantees and legal services to the doorstep of enterprises, escorting them in operating with peace of mind and ensuring the safe and stable operation of industries.
"In the past, we did not know whom to turn to for cybersecurity. Now with a dedicated 'cyber security steward,' many of our problems have been solved," said the person in charge of a beneficiary enterprise. When the public is more vigilant, there is less risk online. The detachment upholds "whoever enforces the law also promotes the law," deeply integrates legal publicity into the entire process of law enforcement and case handling, and relies on public security self-media platforms to publish more than 20 warning education cases involving internet-related cases and cybersecurity science popularization information, using real cases to create vivid legal teaching materials.
"Just tapping your fingers to register a few website accounts can bring in hundreds or even thousands of yuan. Behind this so-called high-paying part-time job may hide a black industrial chain infringing on citizens' personal information." On May 29, 2026, China Central Television reported a major case of infringing on citizens' personal information solved by the cyber security department of the Pingliang public security organs, further expanding the coverage and communication influence of legal publicity and effectively enhancing the legal awareness and self-protection ability of the vast number of netizens.
Offline legal publicity was equally lively. Officers and auxiliary police of the detachment went deep into communities, campuses, and markets to popularize cybersecurity knowledge face to face with the public, repeatedly reminding them: "Do not click unfamiliar links, do not reply to unknown text messages, and never give verification codes to anyone." During the school opening season, the detachment went onto campuses to carry out the "first lesson on cybersecurity for the new school term." An Xiaoning, head of the network case brigade, used easy-to-understand language to explain common online fraud routines and prevention techniques to students. "Although the internet is convenient, there are many traps. You must protect your privacy, do not believe or spread rumors, and choose friends cautiously," said Yang Rui (pseudonym), a student at Pingliang No. 4 Middle School, after listening to the class.
Launching a Good "Combination Punch," Promoting Long-Term Results Through Multi-Dimensional Co-Governance
Cyber police carry out cybersecurity publicity activities at schools (Photo by Ding Xudong). Severe crackdowns are the most powerful legal deterrent. Facing new situations and new challenges, the detachment responds proactively, conducts in-depth research on local online communication characteristics, closely tracks the development trend of the online ecology, and carries out regular governance of local online "three vulgarities" (vulgar, lowbrow, and kitschy content) and rumor information, ensuring timely follow-up on online requests for help involving people's difficulties and effectively purifying the local online ecological environment. Since 2026, it has discovered more than 5,000 pieces of "three vulgarities" and rumor information related to all parts of the country and interviewed more than 500 local online streamers involved in accordance with the law. During the four-month special campaign against AI-generated false information, it discovered more than 70,000 pieces of AI false information and screened and handled more than 3,000 pieces, effectively curbing the spread of AI false information in cyberspace.
Systematic governance is the longest-lasting protection of security. The detachment adheres to categorized measures, resolutely correcting online streamers who spread negative information, while actively linking up with positive-energy internet influencers to gather joint forces for online governance. In its work, the detachment proactively connected with local positive-energy internet influencers and jointly produced short cybersecurity publicity videos. Police officers appeared on camera to give explanations, and internet celebrities helped "endorse" the content. Typical cases were integrated into short video scripts, and forms such as scene reenactment and interactive Q&A were used to enhance the sense of immersion and communication power of the content. In ways that the public can understand and accept, cybersecurity knowledge was popularized, narrowing the distance between the broad masses and online ecological governance. After the publicity videos were released, they won unanimous recognition and praise from local netizens, effectively improving public network literacy and prevention awareness, especially among middle-aged, elderly, and youth groups. Up to now, the detachment has jointly produced and released 35 series publicity videos with more than 20 local positive-energy internet celebrities, with cumulative views across the internet exceeding 10 million, achieving good social publicity results.
At present, the "Clean Net 2026" special campaign is still being持续推进. The lights of the cyber security detachment of the Pingliang Municipal Public Security Bureau will still be on in many early mornings. Silent fingertips weave clarity; with the stars as companions, they safeguard tranquility. They are always on the road, protecting with heart and emotion the peace behind that screen.
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