Xianyu freezes 98,358 accounts, dismantles 15 gangs after underage prostitution allegations
On September 21, Alibaba's second-hand platform Xianyu faced a social media storm after media reports alleged an embedded sex-for-sale chain involving minors as young as 14. Xianyu responded by announcing a special task force and a three-pronged governance mechanism. The platform reported freezing 98,358 risk accounts since January 2026 and assisting police in dismantling 15 criminal gangs. Xianyu denied that the coded phrase "处宝可约" appeared on its platform, stating it originated from a seller's WeChat Work profile. The company called for joint industry action.
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Xianyu Sets Up Special Team to Crack Down on Pornographic Content, Freezes Nearly 100,000 Accounts
Chinese second-hand trading platform Xianyu (a subsidiary of Alibaba) has established a special task force to combat pornographic content and illegal引流 (traffic diversion) activities, following a social media storm on September 21. The company reported that from January 2026 to the present, it has frozen 98,358 risk accounts linked to pornographic引流 and, in collaboration with police, dismantled 15 criminal gangs. Xianyu acknowledged the difficulty of identifying such content, as criminal groups use coded language and move actual transactions off-platform. The company stated it has implemented a comprehensive governance mechanism including pre-identification, immediate action, and police-enterprise cooperation. It also clarified that a widely circulated screenshot showing the phrase '处宝可约' (a suggestive term involving minors) did not originate from Xianyu's platform but from a third-party enterprise WeChat account. Xianyu called on other platforms to join forces to effectively cut off the illegal产业链 (industrial chain). The platform has over 217 million monthly active users, according to QuestMobile data.
Read sourceXianyu Responds to 'Sexual Content' Allegations: Freezes 98,358 Accounts, Dismantles 15 Black-Market Gangs
On September 21, Chinese second-hand trading platform Xianyu (Alibaba's idle goods marketplace) faced a major public relations crisis after media reports alleged it harbored sexual content and underage exploitation, using coded terms like 'Chubao Keyue' (virginity available). Xianyu denied the specific claim, stating the cited screenshot originated from an external enterprise WeChat account, not its platform. The company acknowledged broader challenges with black-market groups using coded language to evade detection and redirect transactions off-platform. Xianyu reported it has frozen 98,358 risk accounts since January 2026 and cooperated with police to dismantle 15 criminal gangs this year. The platform announced a special task force and a three-pronged governance mechanism combining pre-identification, immediate action, and police-enterprise collaboration. The article, published on NetEase Finance, defends Xianyu's efforts while noting the difficulty of eradicating such activities across all major platforms. It cites Xianyu's 600 million registered users and 217 million monthly active users as of May 2026, arguing the platform's ecosystem remains largely healthy despite isolated incidents.
Read sourceXianyu Responds to Prostitution Allegations, Says Nearly 100,000 Accounts Banned This Year
On September 21, Chinese second-hand trading platform Xianyu (a subsidiary of Alibaba) became a trending topic on social media after media reports revealed an alleged prostitution-related supply chain still operating on its platform. In response, Xianyu stated it has established a special task force to crack down on sexually suggestive content used for引流 (traffic redirection) and fraud. The company detailed its comprehensive prevention and control mechanism, which includes pre-identification, immediate disposal, and police-enterprise cooperation. According to Xianyu, from January 2026 to the present, it has frozen 98,358 accounts suspected of engaging in sexually suggestive引流 activities. Additionally, the company has proactively transferred relevant leads to public security authorities, leading to the successful crackdown of 15 criminal groups involved in prostitution-related activities this year. Xianyu noted that during this process, it screened tens of millions of products, the vast majority of which were normal goods. The company called for joint action from all platforms to combat such illegal activities.
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Xianyu Cracks Down on Pornographic Content, Says Not All Violations Lead to Account Bans
Xianyu, Alibaba's second-hand goods platform, has intensified its crackdown on pornographic content and illegal引流 (traffic diversion) activities following media reports exposing an underground sex trade on the platform. According to reports from Hebei Economic News and The Paper, some sellers used coded language like 'virgin available for booking' to advertise underage prostitution services, with prices ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 yuan. Other sellers disguised illicit services as legitimate offerings such as 'model photography', 'in-home fitness training', and 'swimming lessons'. In response on September 21, Xianyu stated it has established a comprehensive prevention and control mechanism including 'pre-identification, immediate disposal, and police-enterprise cooperation'. The platform investigated 10 reported products, finding 6 already removed by automated systems, 3 removed for off-platform引流, and 1 legitimate anime image customization service. Xianyu clarified that the 'virgin available for booking' message appeared on WeChat Work profiles, not on its platform. Customer service stated that penalties are cumulative, with repeated violations leading to account suspension. The platform reported freezing 98,358 risk accounts in 2026 and assisting police in dismantling 15 pornographic crime rings. Xianyu's operating entity, Zhejiang Alibaba Xianyu Network Technology Co., Ltd., had only 5 employees last year according to Tianyancha data.
Read sourceXianyu Responds to Pornography Allegations, Freezes Over 98,000 Accounts in Crackdown
Chinese second-hand marketplace Xianyu (a subsidiary of Alibaba) issued a statement on September 21 after trending on social media for alleged pornography-related content. The platform said it has established a comprehensive governance mechanism including pre-identification, immediate disposal, and police-enterprise cooperation. According to data cited by the company, from January 2026 to the present, Xianyu has frozen 98,358 accounts suspected of pornographic solicitation and has assisted police in dismantling 15 pornography-related criminal groups this year, reviewing tens of millions of products. Regarding 10 specific items flagged by media reports, Xianyu stated that 6 had already been identified and removed by its automated system before the reports were published, and 3 others were taken down after publication for suspected off-platform solicitation. The company clarified that some items reported as pornographic were actually legitimate services such as anime-style portrait commissions and personal fitness training sessions. One item was hidden from public view due to inappropriate wording like 'special item.' Xianyu noted that the phrase 'appointment available' mentioned in reports appeared not on its platform but in a staff member's WeChat profile. The company vowed to continue cooperating with law enforcement and called for joint action across platforms to combat the pornography solicitation supply chain.
Read sourceXianyu platform exposed for hosting child sex trafficking ring, investigation finds
An investigation by Hebei Economic TV has revealed that Xianyu, Alibaba's second-hand goods platform with over 100 million monthly active users, is being used as a gateway for a sex trafficking ring involving minors, including a 14-year-old girl. Sellers post innocuous listings such as 'swimming lessons' or 'model photography' and then move conversations to WeChat, where they offer underage girls for sexual services at prices between 20,000 and 30,000 yuan. The article criticizes Xianyu's reliance on automated moderation, which fails to detect coded language, and notes that this is not the first such incident—similar problems were reported in 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2026. The author argues that the platform's business model prioritizes low barriers for sellers over robust content moderation, and that Alibaba has the technical capability to address the issue but lacks the will to invest the necessary resources. Xianyu's customer service responded that users seeing unremoved violations does not mean the platform endorses them, a statement the author calls an admission of negligence.
Read sourceXianyu, China's Top Second-Hand App, Again Accused of Facilitating Underage Prostitution
Xianyu, Alibaba's second-hand trading platform with over 600 million users, has been accused of facilitating prostitution, including involving minors, according to a report by Hebei Economic News. The report claims that some sellers use coded listings such as 'model private photography' or 'swimming lessons' to direct users to offline or private transactions, with some allegedly offering underage girls as young as 14 for prices of 20,000-30,000 yuan. Xianyu responded by stating it has established a comprehensive prevention and control mechanism, freezing 98,358 risk accounts since January 2026 and cooperating with police to crack down on 15 prostitution rings this year. However, the platform denied that the reported explicit content occurred on its platform, arguing that the transactions were conducted off-platform via enterprise WeChat. Critics, including China News Network, argue that Xianyu's content moderation has been insufficient, with problems escalating from coded transactions to explicit pricing and involvement of minors. Legal experts note that under China's Cybersecurity Law, platforms bear responsibility for content published on their sites, even if transactions occur elsewhere.
Read sourceXianyu 'pornography' scandal tops Weibo trends; platform apologizes, vows to upgrade detection
On September 21, the Chinese second-hand trading platform Xianyu (owned by Alibaba) topped Weibo's trending list after an investigation by Hebei Economic Vision revealed an embedded sex-for-sale chain on the platform. Reporters found sellers using coded language such as 'appointment available' and 'virgin available' to offer sexual services, with some involving minors as young as 14. Prices for 'virgin' services ranged from 20,000 to 30,000 yuan. Sellers directed buyers off-platform to WeChat or enterprise chat groups after payment of a 99-yuan 'intention fee'. Xianyu's customer service apologized, stating that while the platform prohibits such content and uses machine review and manual checks, some violators evade detection through evolving coded terms. The platform reported that from January to September 2026, it had removed 98,358 accounts and assisted police in dismantling 15 criminal groups. Legal experts noted that under Chinese law, platforms have a duty to stop illegal content. The incident is the latest in a series of similar exposures dating back to 2016, highlighting persistent challenges in content moderation on peer-to-peer marketplaces.
Read sourceXianyu platform accused of harboring underage prostitution ring, girls as young as 14
A recent investigation by Hebei Economic TV has revealed that Xianyu, Alibaba's second-hand goods trading platform, is allegedly harboring a sex trafficking chain involving minors, with the youngest victim reportedly only 14 years old. According to the report, vendors use coded listings such as 'model booking for photography' or 'fitness coaching' to advertise sexual services, often using suggestive images and language to lure customers offline or into private chat groups. Some listings explicitly offer 'special services' with price lists, and claim to provide medical certification. This is not the first time Xianyu has faced such allegations; similar issues were reported in 2024 involving coded terms like 'second-hand air conditioner' and 'Apple SIM ejector tool'. Despite the platform's claims of conducting special crackdowns and removing over 98,000 risky accounts since January 2026, critics argue that its reliance on automated detection rather than human review has created a regulatory blind spot. The article calls for stronger regulatory oversight and stricter enforcement of China's未成年人保护法 (Minor Protection Law), questioning whether the platform's governance is a matter of capability or negligence.
Read sourceXianyu Denies Prostitution Claims, Forms Task Force to Combat Sexual Solicitation
On September 21, Xianyu, Alibaba's second-hand goods platform, responded to media reports alleging it harbors a child prostitution network. The company stated it has established a special task force and implemented a comprehensive system of 'pre-identification, immediate disposal, and police-enterprise cooperation' to crack down on sexual solicitation. Xianyu disclosed that since January 2026, it has frozen 98,358 accounts linked to sexual solicitation and, with police cooperation, dismantled 15 prostitution rings this year. The company reviewed millions of listings, finding the vast majority to be normal. Regarding a media report that some sellers' profiles contained the phrase 'virgin available' referring to minors as young as 14, Xianyu clarified that this information appeared on the sellers' WeChat Work (enterprise WeChat) profiles, not on Xianyu's platform. Xianyu traced 10 specific listings cited in the report: 6 had already been removed by its automated system before the report, 3 were removed after the report for off-platform solicitation, and 1 was a legitimate anime image customization service that was hidden due to ambiguous wording. Xianyu called on other platforms to join forces to effectively cut off the illegal chain.
Read sourceXianyu Reports 98,358 Accounts Banned in 2026 Crackdown on Pornographic Content
Xianyu, Alibaba's second-hand goods platform, announced progress in its special campaign against pornographic content and solicitation. From January 2026 to date, the platform has frozen 98,358 accounts involved in pornographic solicitation. In collaboration with police, Xianyu has transferred leads and helped dismantle 15 pornographic crime rings. The platform has disclosed 32 special governance actions this year targeting issues like online fraud and off-platform solicitation. Xianyu noted that pornographic solicitation is one of the hardest areas to govern due to criminals using coded language and moving transactions off-platform. The platform has built a full-chain governance system covering pre-identification, real-time handling, and police coordination. It targets three typical scenarios: using coded signals to sell sexual services, disguised pornographic solicitation leading to fraud, and selling pornographic materials via cloud storage. Xianyu stated it will continue investing in risk identification and police cooperation to maintain a clean online environment.
Xianyu Responds to Sex Trafficking Claims, Forms Task Force to Combat Illegal Content
Chinese second-hand goods platform Xianyu (a subsidiary of Alibaba) has responded to reports of a hidden sex trafficking industry on its platform, which recently trended on social media. In a statement to reporters, Xianyu said it will resolutely combat illegal activities using pornographic content for traffic generation and fraud. The company has established a special task force and created a comprehensive prevention and control mechanism involving 'pre-identification, immediate handling, and police-enterprise cooperation.' According to the company, since January 2026, Xianyu has frozen 98,357 accounts suspected of pornographic traffic diversion. Additionally, Xianyu has proactively transferred relevant leads to public security departments, and this year has successfully cooperated with police to crack down on 15 pornographic gangs, as reported by the科创板日报 (STAR Market Daily).
Read sourceXianyu Apologizes After Report Alleges Hidden Prostitution Chain Involving Minors
Chinese second-hand trading platform Xianyu (Alibaba's idle goods marketplace) has apologized following a media investigation alleging it harbors a hidden prostitution chain involving underage girls. On September 21, Xianyu told Jiemian News it had formed a special task force and would deepen cooperation with police to combat the illegal activity. The platform's customer service also apologized for the negative user experience, stating it continuously monitors and removes prohibited listings but that criminals use coded language to evade detection. Reporters found a contact using the handle 'Chubao Keyue' who claimed to offer underage girls for appointments, with the youngest aged 14, and offered to provide hospital checks and ID documents. Xianyu responded that after tracing the reported listings, 6 of 10 were already removed by its automated system before the report, 3 were removed for off-platform solicitation, and 1 was a legitimate comic image service. Xianyu stated that 'Chubao Keyue' did not appear on any Xianyu page or chat record but was a WeChat Work personal profile. The platform reported freezing over 98,300 risk accounts related to pornographic solicitation from January to September 2026 and assisting police in cracking 15 criminal groups. Analysts cited in the article call for stronger regulatory oversight beyond platform self-policing to eradicate such abuses.
Read sourceXianyu 'Pornography' Scandal Tops Weibo Trending; Platform Vows Crackdown
On September 21, Chinese second-hand trading platform Xianyu (Alibaba's Idle Fish) topped Weibo's trending list over allegations of facilitating pornographic content and prostitution. In response, Xianyu's official account 'Xianyu Blackboard' stated it has established a special task force to combat pornographic引流 (traffic diversion) and fraud, implementing a comprehensive system of 'pre-identification, immediate disposal, and police-enterprise cooperation.' The platform reported freezing 98,358 accounts suspected of pornographic引流 since January 2026, and cooperating with police to dismantle 15 pornographic gangs this year. Xianyu clarified that most of the millions of items reviewed were normal goods, and that the challenge lies in criminal groups using coded language and moving transactions off-platform. The company detailed the handling of 10 specific items cited in media reports, noting that 6 were already removed by automated systems before the reports, 3 were removed after for off-platform引流, and 1 was a legitimate custom illustration service mischaracterized as pornographic. Xianyu also denied the existence of '处宝可约' (a coded phrase implying underage availability) on its platform, stating the phrase appeared only on a seller's WeChat Work profile after off-platform contact. The platform called for joint industry action to combat the illegal chain.
Read sourceXianyu Responds to Sex-Related Industry Chain Allegations, Forms Special Task Force to Combat Content
Chinese second-hand trading platform Xianyu (a subsidiary of Alibaba) has responded to reports alleging a complete sex-related industry chain operating on its platform, which became a trending topic on social media. In a statement to the Star Daily reporter, Xianyu said it will resolutely crack down on illegal activities that use pornographic content for traffic diversion and fraud. The company announced it has established a special task force and will build a comprehensive prevention and control governance mechanism that includes 'front-end identification, immediate handling, and police-enterprise cooperation.' The response comes after media investigations revealed that some users on the platform were using coded language and images to sell sexual services, raising concerns about content moderation on the popular e-commerce marketplace. The article was originally published by the Star Daily and republished by East Money News.
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