Police in China’s Jiangning district have arrested a 38-year-old man, Jiao, who reportedly pretended to be a woman to entice men into intimate situations, secretly recorded them, and shared the videos online, a case that has caused huge outrage and privacy issues all over China.

'Red Uncle' Causes Social Media Storm

The suspect, who has been referred to online as the 'Red Uncle' or 'Red Old Man', was arrested on Sunday on charges of distributing obscene content, confirmed local police in a statement on Tuesday. Speculation of the case swamped Chinese social media sites, including Weibo, where the hashtag "#RedUncle" immediately became the most trending topic, garnering more than 200 million views. Numerous posts alleged that Jiao had recorded intimate activities with up to 1,691 men, raising concerns of public health risks, privacy intrusion, and infidelity in marriage.

But Jiangning police explained that though Jiao had recorded and released explicit material, the figure of more than 1,000 sex partners shared widely had no basis. No number was given by authorities but affirmed the true age of the suspect to be 38, as opposed to previous speculation that he was a 60-year-old "uncle". Police said investigations into the scope of the alleged crimes were still in progress. According to reports, Jiao cross-dressed as a woman to lure mostly heterosexual men to his residence where he recorded the encounters without their consent. Many videos were then uploaded to various social media platforms, reportedly for monetary gain. Following the suspect’s arrest, a montage of headshots allegedly showing nearly 100 of the men involved also circulated online, prompting fresh outrage over privacy violations. “The invasion of personal privacy is a no-no,” posted one Weibo user in response to demands for action against the people who posted victims' photographs without permission.

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Health Authorities Call for Testing, Public Precautions

Reports of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) have also provided an added layer of crisis to the scandal. A health official in the city said in a statement to state-sponsored Jimu News that "relevant measures" would be taken to handle any possible public health threat. If you are a close contact and concerned about your health, you can visit us for testing anytime," the official concluded.

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Though homosexual relations are not prohibited in China, production and dissemination of pornography is strictly forbidden. Dispensation of images or videos of sex acts without permission can also result in severe criminal penalties for breaching rights of privacy. Legal experts cited by reuetrs indicate Jiao may be handed heavy jail time if he is found guilty under China's obscenity laws against dissemination of obscene materials and illegal release of private information.