Journalist sues ByteDance executive for defamation following public feud
Financial journalist Qin Shuo has filed a lawsuit against ByteDance vice president Li Liang after a week-long dispute regarding market analysis.
Financial commentator Qin Shuo has initiated legal proceedings against ByteDance vice president Li Liang, alleging defamation following a public disagreement over the state of the Chinese internet market. Qin, founder of the "Qin Shuo's Circle" media outlet, filed the case in a Shanghai court, while Li confirmed he would respond formally to the suit.
The conflict stemmed from an October 26 analysis written by Qin, which used QuestMobile data to argue that the industry is shifting from a "Tencent era" to a "ByteDance era." Li challenged the analysis, labeling the data usage as flawed and incomplete, arguing it ignored long-tail applications and PC traffic.
The dispute intensified on social media platforms, with Li accusing Qin of lacking professional rigor and implying that the journalist’s analysis was influenced by undisclosed "stakeholders." Qin contends that Li's personal attacks and characterizations constitute a breach of his reputation.
Li Liang has framed the pending legal battle as an opportunity to debate the influence and credibility of "expert-run media," claiming that such entities can mislead the public. The case is now set for judicial review.