It was indeed necessary and timely for the Supreme People's Court to release on Sunday its interpretations on the application of the law in cases involving starting and deliberately disseminating rumors that might disrupt social order.

Against the background that some people do not think twice about starting and disseminating rumors that result in the disruption of public order, the interpretations, which come into effect on Monday, set out how the serious consequences of such crimes should be defined in the application of the law. This is important both for ordinary citizens and judicial departments.

For ordinary citizens, the interpretations explicitly explain what kinds of false information should not be spread, and they make it easier for the courts to apply the law.