Xu Lin, an active democracy activist, was sentenced to three years in prison in 2018 for, according to the court, causing serious public disorder by repeatedly posting “false information” online that insulted national leaders. While he was released on September 25, 2020, upon completion of his sentence, Xu Lin was detained again on May 17, 2024, on suspicion of provoking disturbances. He was formally arrested in June 2024.