Abstract：In the process of anti-corruption on the Internet, citizens' free speech, supervisory right of constitution and informer's reputation are important rights protected by law. When they conflict with each other, in order to ensure citizens' right of free speech and supervision, and their enthusiasm to participate in national and social affair management, Criminal Law should keep modest to fight against defaming officials on the network. In line with this philosophy, we should give careful thought to standards of internet defamation from the perspective of network anti-corruption, not easily reduce the threshold of defamation and expand the application scope of Criminal Law. In addition, elements of internet defamation should be carefully identified to fully and rationally fight against the crime of internet defamation and ensure citizens' basic rights at the same time.

Keyword：network anti-corruption;internet defamation;crime of defamation;elements of crime;modest and restraining principle;