Some experts have called on the legislature to set up regulations to punish maliciously false reports online, but other experts worry this can discourage citizens' passion to fight corruption.

China's discipline watchdogs have been taking online anti-corruption efforts seriously.

A number of officials have been caught up in a sweeping "cyber anti-corruption" drive that has gathered steam since the Party's 18th National Congress in November.

The Shanghai Jiao Tong University research found micro blog reports have improved discipline watchdogs' efficiency in handling cases.

The Internet showed its teeth as early as 2009, when Zhou Jiugeng, a former real estate management official in East China's Nanjing, was sentenced to 11 years in jail for taking bribes. The investigation had been spurred by online photos showing him smoking expensive cigarettes.

It took half a year from the micro blog being posted to his being sentenced for corruption.

This year, the average time between a micro blog accusation and the government announcing action it had taken is 28 days, the report said.

Wang Hongyi contributed to this story.

Contact the writer at xieyu@chinadaily.com.cn