Research on Cyber Insult Crimes in China from a Crime Script Perspective: An Empirical Analysis Based on 89 Judicial Decisions

Abstract

Grounded in environmental criminology and employing a crime script methodology, this study conducts an empirical analysis of 89 judicial decisions on the offense of cyber insult in China from 2014 to 2024, examining types, pathways, characteristics, causes, and governance strategies. Findings show four crime types: emotion-driven catharsis (64.04%), interest-dispute driven (14.61%), sex-related online conflict (6.74%), and relationship-unclear (17.98%). Key features include higher incidence in East and North China; female offenders concentrated in emotion-driven cases (75%); intensified harm under the “WeChat plus multi-platform” combined insult pattern; and “aggregative” diffusion of consequences. Script analysis indicates a common pathway of “conflict—opportunity pre-setting—open insult.” Offender profiling identifies typical groups such as “men engaging in extreme breakup retaliation” and “women betrayed in intimate relationships.” Causal analysis spans the individual level (offender, victim, third-party platform), legal level (legal characterization, offense nature, legislative gaps), and social level (herd behavior among netizens, platform review failures). Governance recommendations propose four pathways: enhancing digital literacy and rights awareness among netizens, strengthening platform algorithmic oversight, advancing legislative and litigation mechanisms, and improving law-enforcement training and fairness in practice.