A judge from the Beijing Internet Court (BIC) hears a minor's online tipping case together with a mediator from the mediation committee of the Internet Society of China. [Photo/ Beijing Internet Court]

The Beijing Internet Court (BIC) recently solved a minor's online tipping case via cooperation with the mediation committee of the Internet Society of China (ISC).

In this case, the 11-year-old minor, surnamed Wang, bypassed the minor's mode of an online gaming platform by using his grandmother's identity, and tipped a large amount to a game host. Upon discovery, Wang's mother sued the gaming platform at the BIC, requesting a full refund of the tipping amount.  

After finding out both parties intended for mediation, the BIC asked the ISC mediation committee to step in. They discovered that Wang's father died in a car accident, and his mother was busy with work. Wang spent most of the time with his grandmother and was obsessed with online gaming. By taking advantage of his grandmother's ignorance to the internet, Wang used her face ID to bypass the minor's mode of the gaming platform. After mediator's efforts, a settlement was reached and the defendant returned the full amount of Wang's tip.

Afterwards, the BIC judge, together with the mediator, carried out a family education guidance session with Wang and his mother. They provided education tips to the parent and suggested more care and for her to spend more time with her child. The mother was also asked to learn legal knowledge on parenting on the BIC's family education platform.