Fang Bin

Fang Bin is a Chinese citizen who gained international attention during the COVID-19 pandemic. He is known for his citizen journalism, which involved documenting and sharing videos about the situation in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, during the early stages of the pandemic.

Background

Fang Bin is a businessman based in Wuhan, Hubei province, China. He owns a local clothing store. Little is known about his personal life as he gained prominence primarily due to his activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Role during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fang Bin began to document the situation in Wuhan through videos. He visited hospitals, funeral homes, and other locations to capture the reality of the situation, which was at odds with the official narrative. His videos were widely shared on social media platforms and brought international attention to the severity of the outbreak in Wuhan.

One of his most notable videos, uploaded on February 1, 2020, showed eight bodies in a minibus outside of a hospital, suggesting a higher death toll than officially reported. After the video went viral, Fang Bin was briefly detained by Chinese authorities.

Disappearance

Fang Bin disappeared on February 10, 2020, shortly after releasing a video in which he claimed that he was under surveillance. His disappearance has led to international concern and calls for his release. As of now, his whereabouts remain unknown.

Impact and significance

Fang Bin's videos played a crucial role in revealing the severity of the COVID-19 situation in Wuhan during the early stages of the pandemic. His citizen journalism provided a counter-narrative to the official reports and highlighted the importance of transparency and freedom of information during public health crises.

See also

• Citizen journalism
• COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
• Censorship in China