Revelations on the Internet about the misconduct of a government official can help anti-corruption efforts, provided that those who publish the information avoid improper invasions of privacy and do not fabricate information, said an expert in governance.

"The discipline watchdog is sometimes not enough to crack down on corruption. Public participation is needed," said Yang Xiaojun, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance.

The matter arose after a senior judge in Hubei province was suspended following the posting of a video clip on the Internet that showed a man checking into a hotel with a woman on Oct 14. He later left the hotel alone.