BEIJING, CHINA -China's most relentless detective agency doesn't get paid, even though it boasts millions of tech-savvy 'investigators'.

They are the country's citizen cybersleuths, whose efforts underscore their lack of trust in government officials, the police and the political system.

According to the Los Angeles Times, their sleuthing techniques can involve databasehunting, photo analysis, searchengine trawling, extensive networking and even hacking.

Therefore, it's not surprising that the government keeps a close eye on these online vigilantes, who have exposed a provincial official wanting to abuse a young child, a woman who stomped a cat to death, and other wrongdoers, reported the LA Times.

Last month, a video was posted online showing an unnamed man bullying a family at a Shenzhen eatery. He allegedly grabbed an 11-year-old girl and tried to push her into a toilet.

'How much money do you want? Give me a price. I will pay it!' he tells the girl's family, according to the transcript provided, adding: 'Do you know who I am? I was sent here by the Transportation Ministry.'

The citizen cybercorps were enraged.

Sometimes, they finger the wrong people. But here, in the twinkling an eye, the overweight bully was outed as Mr Lin Jiaxiang, 58, party secretary of the ShenzhenMaritime Administration.

He was promptly sacked.

At first glance, this sounds like a perfect example of citizens exercising their power in a new China. More importantly, though, it highlights the vast imbalance of power between the 'little folk' and Communist Party officials.

Blogger Luo Ben said on 163.com: 'Mr Lin was not bluffing... He told the brutal truth: Ordinary people are nothing in the eyes of the officials. They can abuse ordinary people any way they want to.'

So far, the LA Times noted, Beijing has allowed attacks on lower-level miscreants, so long as there is no broader attack on the system.

And the cybersleuths also know how to play the game: They are aware of the lines which should not be crossed, and they avoid the real heavy hitters.

'They've lived in a dictatorship for a long time,' said noted Chinese blogger Michael Anti. 'They don't go too far.'

Considered within the pale, for instance, is a well-known video that appeared in February 2006, showing a woman in high heels stomping a cat to death. Photo-scrutiny technology and a tip helped run her to ground.

As long as they stick to such cases, China's cybersleuths should continue to prosper.

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