Chinese state media says more than 160,000 officials were caught out last year, up 12 percent on 2011.

At least 60 of those cases were at a senior level, the highest-profile being the downfall of former Chonquing Communist Party chief Bo Xilai.

Much of the pressure is being applied through the internet. Li Xinde runs a website that gathers accusations against public officials, and then takes the allegations and any evidence to the central government so they can be officially investigated.

Al Jazeera's Marga Ortigas reports from Hong Kong.