Police in Beijing have revealed that a viral video showing a blind woman being struck by an electric scooter on a tactile paving path was allegedly staged to gain online traffic and profit.
The case previously sparked widespread outrage across Chinese social media after footage circulated showing a visually impaired woman walking along a blind pathway in Beijing’s Chaoyang district before being hit by an electric scooter rider.
The rider was also heard scolding the woman for “not watching the road” before allegedly leaving the scene, triggering anger from netizens who demanded authorities track down and punish the man involved.
Shortly after the video gained massive attention online, the woman involved claimed she had already received an apology from the rider.
However, Beijing police later announced that the entire incident had allegedly been fabricated.
According to an official police statement, a 26-year-old man surnamed Liu and a 24-year-old woman surnamed Jiang allegedly staged and filmed the incident in order to attract followers, boost online engagement and generate profit through social media platforms.
Authorities said the misleading video caused widespread public discussion and negatively impacted society by manipulating public sympathy.
Police confirmed both suspects have since been placed under criminal coercive measures under Chinese law.
The woman’s social media account involved in the incident has also reportedly been restricted from gaining new followers.
The fake “blind woman collision” case was one of three online misinformation incidents highlighted by Beijing police in a recent crackdown on harmful internet content.
The other cases involved staged street disputes and AI-generated videos falsely depicting massive garbage dumping sites in Beijing suburbs.
The revelations triggered strong backlash online, with many netizens accusing the pair of exploiting public empathy for attention and financial gain.
Some users expressed disappointment after initially believing the footage was genuine, while others criticised the growing trend of staged online content designed to manipulate emotions and drive internet traffic.
