A major Chinese nationalist internet troll group has disbanded amid backlash over their planned online attacks directed at Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters.
Diba Central Army, also known as Li Yi Bar, is a popular Chinese social media platform that boasts over 30 million subscribers and the endorsement of Chinese state media. The group emerged in 2004, initially as a fanpage for the former Chinese football player Li Yi. Characterized as pro-Chinese-Communist-Party, the forum is known for defending the Party’s policies and political stances. They often attack online users who criticize the Party, or people perceived to have offended the Chinese government. They spam websites across the worldwide internet with verbal abuse and nationalist comments.
