How can I justify myself as a Magnate if I don't indulge myself?-Chapter 526 - 241: Court Session_2

Gu Heng frowned, really wanting to speak up.

But before coming here, his lawyer had already said it.

The current Internet public opinion was extremely unfriendly towards him, almost entirely negative.

But this was all normal, the lawyer's explanation was very clear.

The summary of the current Internet sentiment was just one phrase: "The weaker side is the rightful one."

The whole phenomenon of the weak overpowering the strong was not happening for the first time, and in this lawsuit against the whole network, Gu Heng was truly the "stronger party," and furthermore, during this time, quite a few of the defendants had been continuously complaining and showing weakness online, leading the majority of netizens to believe that Gu Heng was using his financial power to bully ordinary people. Since they were also ordinary people who had engaged in cyberbullying others in the past, they empathized thoroughly.

The result of this empathy was the emergence of a large group of moralists...

They all demanded that Gu Heng make a big deal smaller, and a small deal nothing at all.

Those who were more aggressive in their words would say that Gu Heng was acting like a capitalist, exploiting ordinary people, helping Western forces strip away their right to freedom of speech...

The reason the lawyers asked Gu Heng not to voice out was because they knew, right now, anything Gu Heng said would be wildly interpreted, leading to greater public uproar, and if the public opinion got any more intense, it might even affect the outcome of the trial.

As long as Gu Heng didn't speak at this time, waiting until the court proceedings had ended.

Whenever the defendants should be sentenced to prison, they would be fined, and then, with the endorsement of the official credibility, the public opinion's direction towards Gu Heng would definitely be positive.

Although Gu Heng really wanted to post a retort to the netizens and to these reporters, he still differentiated between what was more or less urgent and remained silent.

And Gu Heng's other appointed lawyer also knew that if they kept silent blindly, these reporters would become even more unbridled, and no one knew what they might write in their articles. After thinking for a few seconds, as Gu Heng's appointed lawyer, he spoke up and scolded, "Which media outlet are you a reporter from?

Do your questions require legal accountability?

In this case, my client Mr. Gu is the plaintiff, the victim! All the defendants are pending for cyber violence, provoking trouble, and slander crimes!

And now you're here saying my client is using wealth and power to oppress ordinary citizens, this is pure slander! Defamation!

Today's trial is about my client's 'cyber violence, provocation, and defamation' case, yet you're here before the court session as a reporter, reversing right and wrong, smearing my client, without considering the consequences?

Or do you have ulterior motives, trying to influence public opinion and attempt to coerce judicial fairness through public sentiment?

Which media are you from? On behalf of Junhe Law Firm, I give you a verbal warning, please stop your illegal infringing actions, or wait for a lawyer's letter!"

During this time, Gu Heng's silence was perceived by the media on the Internet as if he had been intimidated by the overwhelming public opinion and had admitted defeat.

However, unexpectedly, at his first appearance, he confronted the reporters so resolutely.

But having heard the lawyer's words, the group of reporters who originally intended to continue exaggerating interview content as before to publish first-hand materials turned pale...

This Gu Heng was not an ordinary celebrity who used to be bullied by them...

That was a real tough person...

Not to mention the 14,000 defendants, almost 80 percent of the first batch of 117 sued were their colleagues, comprised of self-media and marketing accounts.

At this time, if they still dare to exaggerate interview content and provoke public opinion, they might be the next ones getting sued...

Thinking of this, the group of reporters who had been pushing forward incessantly all stopped in their tracks, and the bodyguards, seizing the moment, forcefully broke through the circle of reporters, leading Gu Heng and the legal team into the court...

...

Half an hour later.

And elsewhere.

As the official accounts of Douyin, Weibo, and various large platforms began live-streaming.

This case, which had attracted legal professionals from both domestically and abroad, as well as many ordinary people about [rumor-mongering, defamation, cyber violence, provoking troubles], officially started its court session.

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In the live broadcast rooms of several major platforms, even the one with the fewest viewers had hundreds of thousands of people.

The barrage of messages scrolled incredibly fast...

Every second, hundreds of comments scrolled across the live broadcast.

"Support Mr. Gu in rectifying the Internet atmosphere! I've had enough of these cyberbullies online, doing nothing but venting their life's dissatisfaction on the internet!"

"Support defending one's legitimate and lawful rights! The internet is not a lawless place!"

"Severe punishment is necessary. This is why someone with money like Gu Heng can afford to fight for justice for themselves. But what if this happened to an ordinary person? How many have been ruined by rumors, defamation, slander, and cyber violence? This lawsuit by Gu Heng is not only for his own justice but also for those who have been hurt by cyber violence!"

Unexpectedly, the majority of the messages were supportive of Gu Heng...

And inside an official meeting room in Jingcheng, all these messages were filtered out and listed on the side.

A man in his sixties looked at these filtered messages, slapped the table, and said, "Comrades, do you see? This is public opinion!

After so many years of Internet regulation, the effects have been minimal, why is that? Isn't it because there isn't a concrete case to support the legal ramifications?"