#ChinesePropaganda
China Propaganda Machine Spreads to the US
It is found that massive amount of tweets and Facebook posts about the US protests circulating on the Internet were posted by social media accounts registered in China.
According to Dr. Shen Bo-yang (Puma), assistant professor of criminology in National Taipei University, as of May 31, 2020 Chinese has engendered over 70,000 said engagements in the social media world.
China's goal to defame protesters in all places has become obvious, as the chief editor of a China state-run tabloid Global Times Hu Xijin (@HuXijin_GT) tweeted the following on May 31:
"I highly suspect that Hong Kong rioters have infiltrated American states. Attacking police stations, smashing shops, blocking roads, breaking public facilities, these are all routine in their protests. Vicious HK rioters obviously are mastermind of violent protests across the US😡."
Despite China's attempt to influence international opinions from the coronavirus pandemic to the protests in the US, China has repeatedly reprimanded the international community for "meddling with China's internal affairs".
Source: Puma Shen; Stand News
#June2 #ChineseInfluence #America #SocialMedia #Twitter #Facebook
China Propaganda Machine Spreads to the US
It is found that massive amount of tweets and Facebook posts about the US protests circulating on the Internet were posted by social media accounts registered in China.
According to Dr. Shen Bo-yang (Puma), assistant professor of criminology in National Taipei University, as of May 31, 2020 Chinese has engendered over 70,000 said engagements in the social media world.
China's goal to defame protesters in all places has become obvious, as the chief editor of a China state-run tabloid Global Times Hu Xijin (@HuXijin_GT) tweeted the following on May 31:
"I highly suspect that Hong Kong rioters have infiltrated American states. Attacking police stations, smashing shops, blocking roads, breaking public facilities, these are all routine in their protests. Vicious HK rioters obviously are mastermind of violent protests across the US😡."
Despite China's attempt to influence international opinions from the coronavirus pandemic to the protests in the US, China has repeatedly reprimanded the international community for "meddling with China's internal affairs".
Source: Puma Shen; Stand News
#June2 #ChineseInfluence #America #SocialMedia #Twitter #Facebook
X (formerly Twitter)
Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) / X
Media professional | 媒体人
#Newspaper
Coronavirus: Inside the pro-China network targeting the US, Hong Kong and an exiled tycoon
//A BBC investigation has found that hundreds of fake or hijacked social media accounts have been pushing pro-Chinese government messages about the pandemic on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.
//The network, consisting of more than 1,200 accounts, displays features similar to a state-backed information operation originating in China that was removed from social media platforms last year. The BBC found evidence that at least some of the pages and accounts originally belonged to users from Bangladesh before they were hijacked or sold.
//These accounts have been attacking whoever’s critical of China’s handling of the outbreak while praising Beijing’s response. They seem to have a relatively low impact however with follower counts that were nowhere near levels that would be considered highly influential.
//A few among those accounts have a long history and have posted criticism of anti-Chinese government protests in Hong Kong last summer.
//Experts say the purpose of networks like this is to create the impression that a lot of social media users support a particular narrative or group, but the operation of this particular network seems too crude to convince most.
Full Article: BBC, (28-May)
https://bbc.in/2YROqLY
Further reading:
Behind China’s Twitter Campaign, a Murky Supporting Chorus
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22271
#ccppropaganda #fakeaccounts #socialmedia #coronavirus
Coronavirus: Inside the pro-China network targeting the US, Hong Kong and an exiled tycoon
//A BBC investigation has found that hundreds of fake or hijacked social media accounts have been pushing pro-Chinese government messages about the pandemic on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube.
//The network, consisting of more than 1,200 accounts, displays features similar to a state-backed information operation originating in China that was removed from social media platforms last year. The BBC found evidence that at least some of the pages and accounts originally belonged to users from Bangladesh before they were hijacked or sold.
//These accounts have been attacking whoever’s critical of China’s handling of the outbreak while praising Beijing’s response. They seem to have a relatively low impact however with follower counts that were nowhere near levels that would be considered highly influential.
//A few among those accounts have a long history and have posted criticism of anti-Chinese government protests in Hong Kong last summer.
//Experts say the purpose of networks like this is to create the impression that a lot of social media users support a particular narrative or group, but the operation of this particular network seems too crude to convince most.
Full Article: BBC, (28-May)
https://bbc.in/2YROqLY
Further reading:
Behind China’s Twitter Campaign, a Murky Supporting Chorus
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/22271
#ccppropaganda #fakeaccounts #socialmedia #coronavirus
BBC News
Fake pro-China accounts exposed
A coordinated network of accounts on three social networks has been targeting the Chinese government's critics.
#SocialMedia #Privacy #UserData
Pompeo Praises Google, Facebook and Twitter for Refusing to Surrender User Data to Hong Kong Government
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has expressed thanks to Google, Facebook and Twitter for refusing to surrender user data to the Hong Kong government. He has also encouraged other companies to do the same.
At a White House press conference, Pompeo criticised Beijing for its inconsistency, "Beijing said that for 50 years they’d give the people of Hong Kong 'a high degree of autonomy.' And you all have seen what’s happened after only 23 years – empty promises made to the people of Hong Kong and to the world."
Many mainstream social media platforms, including Google, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram and WhatsApp have recently expressed that they will stop processing requests from the Hong Kong government for user information disclosure, after Beijing's forceful implementation of the National Security Law.
Source: Stand News #Jul8
#Twitter #FaceBook #Google #Pompeo
Pompeo Praises Google, Facebook and Twitter for Refusing to Surrender User Data to Hong Kong Government
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has expressed thanks to Google, Facebook and Twitter for refusing to surrender user data to the Hong Kong government. He has also encouraged other companies to do the same.
At a White House press conference, Pompeo criticised Beijing for its inconsistency, "Beijing said that for 50 years they’d give the people of Hong Kong 'a high degree of autonomy.' And you all have seen what’s happened after only 23 years – empty promises made to the people of Hong Kong and to the world."
Many mainstream social media platforms, including Google, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram and WhatsApp have recently expressed that they will stop processing requests from the Hong Kong government for user information disclosure, after Beijing's forceful implementation of the National Security Law.
Source: Stand News #Jul8
#Twitter #FaceBook #Google #Pompeo
#Newspaper
Twitter and TikTok in fake news firing line
//China’s political manipulation of social media sites has prompted a swift response from the Morrison government.
//In early 2019, a delegation of senior Australian government officials travelled to Shenzhen, China, where they were permitted into a gleaming, two-towered building in the city’s far west.
//The AEC’s idea was to open the lines of communication with the social media player, recognising the platform as a potential conduit for disinformation ahead of the May 18, 2019 federal election.
//Similar meetings took place in Silicon Valley with Twitter, Facebook and Google. But recognising #WeChat’s two million-plus user base in #Australia
//#Tencent was “receptive”, Rogers says, opening the way for a “collaborative relationship” during the 2019 campaign.
//However, just over 12 months later, an explosion of fake news around the world and the rise of misinformation and foreign government interference across almost all the biggest social media platforms has infuriated the Morrison government
//Twitter released an archive of 23,750 suspended accounts connected to Chinese state-backed information operations... These accounts aimed to sow discord across several fronts — including propaganda against Hong Kong protesters who are portrayed repeatedly as violent and referred to as “cockroaches”, and in linking the COVID-19 outbreak to Hong Kong or the US.
//Twitter is banned in China, but most of the misinformation is aimed at the Chinese-speaking diaspora, including in Australia.
//WeChat has an estimated 2.9 million Australian users. Australian political parties believe the platform has the potential to affect election results in up to six federal seats, which have high numbers of Chinese-Australian voters.
//Its aim is to use Australian diplomacy... to call out disinformation and shame the state actors behind fake news.
//the use of social media platforms in Australia “that are extensions of social platforms in authoritarian states” pose a particular problem.
//foreign state-sponsored social media campaigns can be conducted at any time in response to geopolitical developments, not just during elections.
//Australia needs to spend less on submarines and more on bolstering cyber defences and weeding out disinformation from strategic rivals, including China.
//“China is also being blamed for COVID-19, so they are reaching out around the globe to try and control these narratives,”
//The government has also tasked communications watchdog ACMA with developing a new #misinformation and news quality code of practice, in a bid to reduce the impact of fake news.
Full Article: The Australian, (11-Jul)
#ChinesePlatform #FakeNews #Tiktok #cyberdefence #SocialMedia #Election #Coronavirus #propaganda
Twitter and TikTok in fake news firing line
//China’s political manipulation of social media sites has prompted a swift response from the Morrison government.
//In early 2019, a delegation of senior Australian government officials travelled to Shenzhen, China, where they were permitted into a gleaming, two-towered building in the city’s far west.
//The AEC’s idea was to open the lines of communication with the social media player, recognising the platform as a potential conduit for disinformation ahead of the May 18, 2019 federal election.
//Similar meetings took place in Silicon Valley with Twitter, Facebook and Google. But recognising #WeChat’s two million-plus user base in #Australia
//#Tencent was “receptive”, Rogers says, opening the way for a “collaborative relationship” during the 2019 campaign.
//However, just over 12 months later, an explosion of fake news around the world and the rise of misinformation and foreign government interference across almost all the biggest social media platforms has infuriated the Morrison government
//Twitter released an archive of 23,750 suspended accounts connected to Chinese state-backed information operations... These accounts aimed to sow discord across several fronts — including propaganda against Hong Kong protesters who are portrayed repeatedly as violent and referred to as “cockroaches”, and in linking the COVID-19 outbreak to Hong Kong or the US.
//Twitter is banned in China, but most of the misinformation is aimed at the Chinese-speaking diaspora, including in Australia.
//WeChat has an estimated 2.9 million Australian users. Australian political parties believe the platform has the potential to affect election results in up to six federal seats, which have high numbers of Chinese-Australian voters.
//Its aim is to use Australian diplomacy... to call out disinformation and shame the state actors behind fake news.
//the use of social media platforms in Australia “that are extensions of social platforms in authoritarian states” pose a particular problem.
//foreign state-sponsored social media campaigns can be conducted at any time in response to geopolitical developments, not just during elections.
//Australia needs to spend less on submarines and more on bolstering cyber defences and weeding out disinformation from strategic rivals, including China.
//“China is also being blamed for COVID-19, so they are reaching out around the globe to try and control these narratives,”
//The government has also tasked communications watchdog ACMA with developing a new #misinformation and news quality code of practice, in a bid to reduce the impact of fake news.
Full Article: The Australian, (11-Jul)
#ChinesePlatform #FakeNews #Tiktok #cyberdefence #SocialMedia #Election #Coronavirus #propaganda
#FakeIdentity #WaterArmy #5Cents #ChineseNetizens
Chinese netizens go after Trump with AI-generated fake accounts
Source: Stand News #Aug15
#Trump #China #AI #USElection #SocialMedia #FakeAccounts #GenerativeAdversarialNetwork
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24485
Chinese netizens go after Trump with AI-generated fake accounts
Source: Stand News #Aug15
#Trump #China #AI #USElection #SocialMedia #FakeAccounts #GenerativeAdversarialNetwork
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/24485
#FakeIdentity #WaterArmy #5Cents #ChineseNetizens
Chinese netizens go after Trump with AI-generated fake accounts
In recent months, a network of fake Chinese accounts with artificially generated followers has been criticizing US President Donald Trump on various social media channels, US media reported.
According to a research report by Graphika, a company cited by the Washington Post and other US media, these AI generated fake accounts have been bashing the Trump administration on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube since June. At first glance, it doesn't look like there's anything strange about those account profile pictures, but after careful observations, Graphika discovered that they seem to be produced by an AI program that creates fake faces. Pro-China groups then use these synthetic images to create accounts to share and post comments to attract more views.
Graphika says the common features of the account avatars are the blurred background and the position of the eyeballs in the photo. These strange photos are most likely the work of the Generative Adversarial Network (#GAN), a machine learning technology that specializes in creating seemingly real but fake faces. By studying real people and learning how to recreate facial features, GAN generates synthetic faces. The results aren't always perfect, and AI programs often have trouble showing accessories and other objects around facial features. The backgrounds are often left blurred as well.
Source: Stand News #Aug15
#Trump #China #AI #USElection #SocialMedia #FakeAccounts #GenerativeAdversarialNetwork
Chinese netizens go after Trump with AI-generated fake accounts
In recent months, a network of fake Chinese accounts with artificially generated followers has been criticizing US President Donald Trump on various social media channels, US media reported.
According to a research report by Graphika, a company cited by the Washington Post and other US media, these AI generated fake accounts have been bashing the Trump administration on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube since June. At first glance, it doesn't look like there's anything strange about those account profile pictures, but after careful observations, Graphika discovered that they seem to be produced by an AI program that creates fake faces. Pro-China groups then use these synthetic images to create accounts to share and post comments to attract more views.
Graphika says the common features of the account avatars are the blurred background and the position of the eyeballs in the photo. These strange photos are most likely the work of the Generative Adversarial Network (#GAN), a machine learning technology that specializes in creating seemingly real but fake faces. By studying real people and learning how to recreate facial features, GAN generates synthetic faces. The results aren't always perfect, and AI programs often have trouble showing accessories and other objects around facial features. The backgrounds are often left blurred as well.
Source: Stand News #Aug15
#Trump #China #AI #USElection #SocialMedia #FakeAccounts #GenerativeAdversarialNetwork
HSBC Reportedly Stops Posting on Social Media amid Scandals to Avoid Criticism
Having recently been implicated in such scandals as potentially being named in China’s list of unreliable entities, according to state media, and having processed funds associated with a Ponzi scheme, HSBC Holdings (0005) has instructed its employees to stop actively posting on social media platforms other than to respond to customer inquiries to avoid criticisms, says Bloomberg.
Bloomberg quoted an internal memo from Tricia Weener, marketing head of the bank’s global commercial and investment banking section, as saying that in view of the recent news, the bank had decided to stop actively posting on social media other than to address customer inquiries. This was to avoid the negative reactions, she explained. The ban was to last until 11 am UK time, 22 September for the moment.
HSBC has dozens of social media accounts across the globe, providing information on financial services and promoting its products. In June 2020, a photo was uploaded to the bank’s WeChat account showing its vice chairman and CEO Peter Wong Tung-shun signing a petition in support of the Hong Kong national security law at a booth on the streets. The photo has since caused controversy.
Source: Stand News #Sep22
#HSBC #China #SocialMedia #Finance
https://bit.ly/2GcCheB
Having recently been implicated in such scandals as potentially being named in China’s list of unreliable entities, according to state media, and having processed funds associated with a Ponzi scheme, HSBC Holdings (0005) has instructed its employees to stop actively posting on social media platforms other than to respond to customer inquiries to avoid criticisms, says Bloomberg.
Bloomberg quoted an internal memo from Tricia Weener, marketing head of the bank’s global commercial and investment banking section, as saying that in view of the recent news, the bank had decided to stop actively posting on social media other than to address customer inquiries. This was to avoid the negative reactions, she explained. The ban was to last until 11 am UK time, 22 September for the moment.
HSBC has dozens of social media accounts across the globe, providing information on financial services and promoting its products. In June 2020, a photo was uploaded to the bank’s WeChat account showing its vice chairman and CEO Peter Wong Tung-shun signing a petition in support of the Hong Kong national security law at a booth on the streets. The photo has since caused controversy.
Source: Stand News #Sep22
#HSBC #China #SocialMedia #Finance
https://bit.ly/2GcCheB
Samsung, FILA and Hyundai Have Removed BTS-Related Posts and Ads from Chinese Websites and Social Media after the K-Pop Boy Band’s ‘Controversial’ Speech Outraged Chinese Netizens
Chinese netizens are outraged by BTS, the K-pop boy band global sensation, over the mentioning of the Korean War in an award-acceptance speech earlier. Zhao Lijian, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Department, stated that he was aware of the related reports and the responses from netizens. The South Korean company Samsung has since removed products launched in conjunction with BTS from online stores in China. The car manufacturer Hyundai and the sports brand FILA have also removed posts related to BTS on their Chinese social media accounts.
Samsung has launched a special edition series of mobile phones and earphones with BTS this July. However, the products are no longer available on Chinese shopping websites JD.com, Tmall and Samsung’s official Chinese website after online dispute of BTS arose. Hyundai and FILA, which have invited BTS to endorse their products, have also removed all BTS-related posts from their official Weibo accounts earlier.
When a journalist asked about the Chinese netizens’ outrage on BTS at a regular press conference hosted by Zhao Lijian, he answered, "I am aware of the related reports, as well as the responses from Chinese netizens. We should learn from history, face the future, treasure peace and promote friendship. These are the things that we should pursue together, worthy to strive for together."
During the acceptance speech of the General James A. Van Fleet Award, an award granted to those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion of US-Korean relations, BTS’s leader RM said, “We will always remember the history of pain that our two nations shared together, and the sacrifices of the countless men and women.” This single sentence had apparently outraged Chinese netizens, despite the fact that China was not mentioned in the speech at all.
#China #BTS #ChineseNetizens #ZhaoLijian #Samsung #Hyundai #FILA #SocialMedia
Source: Stands News #Oct13
https://bit.ly/3o0D8Ro
Chinese netizens are outraged by BTS, the K-pop boy band global sensation, over the mentioning of the Korean War in an award-acceptance speech earlier. Zhao Lijian, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Information Department, stated that he was aware of the related reports and the responses from netizens. The South Korean company Samsung has since removed products launched in conjunction with BTS from online stores in China. The car manufacturer Hyundai and the sports brand FILA have also removed posts related to BTS on their Chinese social media accounts.
Samsung has launched a special edition series of mobile phones and earphones with BTS this July. However, the products are no longer available on Chinese shopping websites JD.com, Tmall and Samsung’s official Chinese website after online dispute of BTS arose. Hyundai and FILA, which have invited BTS to endorse their products, have also removed all BTS-related posts from their official Weibo accounts earlier.
When a journalist asked about the Chinese netizens’ outrage on BTS at a regular press conference hosted by Zhao Lijian, he answered, "I am aware of the related reports, as well as the responses from Chinese netizens. We should learn from history, face the future, treasure peace and promote friendship. These are the things that we should pursue together, worthy to strive for together."
During the acceptance speech of the General James A. Van Fleet Award, an award granted to those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion of US-Korean relations, BTS’s leader RM said, “We will always remember the history of pain that our two nations shared together, and the sacrifices of the countless men and women.” This single sentence had apparently outraged Chinese netizens, despite the fact that China was not mentioned in the speech at all.
#China #BTS #ChineseNetizens #ZhaoLijian #Samsung #Hyundai #FILA #SocialMedia
Source: Stands News #Oct13
https://bit.ly/3o0D8Ro
China escalating its propaganda strategies, expanding efforts in spreading misinformation and censoring negative news
The latest issue of Newsweek reported over 600 organisations with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), are participating in infiltration and polarisation in the US. In May, an official from the US Department of State said that Chinese propaganda strategies have escalated, by amplifying disinformation from Russia to attribute the COVID-19 pandemic to the US. China is expanding its influences by censoring negative comments and spreading positive ones to unite its people, while threatening to take economic and diplomatic actions to other countries, stated Atlantic magazine.
Analysts and officials from the Department of State suggested that, China is imitating the spread and amplifying misinformation from Russia, in order to put US to blame for the COVID-19 pandemic. "Beijing is pursuing a comprehensive and coordinated influence campaign to advance its interests and undermine the United States. The CCP is employing a whole-of-government approach, using political, economic, military, and information tools to advance its influence", stated Lea Gabrielle, Special Envoy and Coordinator of the Global Engagement Center at the U.S. Department of State.
She also mentioned social media accounts associated with the Chinese government, fabricating and spreading disinformation about the pandemic or simply false information. By questioning US subsidised-laboratories from the former USSR, China is spinning away the attention from its own laboratory at Wuhan, while other related accounts sculpting China as a model for others to follow in combating the virus.
China’s spread of disinformation is not limited to social media, but also state-subsidised international media such as China Daily, Global Times, and China Global Television Network (CGTN). The official stated that Beijing aims to propagate the idea that Chinese government is leading the world in fighting the pandemic, while the West is incapable of protecting their citizens or helping other countries.
#COVID19 #CCP #SocialMedia #Propaganda #Censorship #US #Disinformation #LeaGabrielle #ChineseMedia #Newsweek
Source: Apple Daily #Oct28
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201028/WTZOFT5YGBDF3I3WAL2YACZFJQ/
The latest issue of Newsweek reported over 600 organisations with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), are participating in infiltration and polarisation in the US. In May, an official from the US Department of State said that Chinese propaganda strategies have escalated, by amplifying disinformation from Russia to attribute the COVID-19 pandemic to the US. China is expanding its influences by censoring negative comments and spreading positive ones to unite its people, while threatening to take economic and diplomatic actions to other countries, stated Atlantic magazine.
Analysts and officials from the Department of State suggested that, China is imitating the spread and amplifying misinformation from Russia, in order to put US to blame for the COVID-19 pandemic. "Beijing is pursuing a comprehensive and coordinated influence campaign to advance its interests and undermine the United States. The CCP is employing a whole-of-government approach, using political, economic, military, and information tools to advance its influence", stated Lea Gabrielle, Special Envoy and Coordinator of the Global Engagement Center at the U.S. Department of State.
She also mentioned social media accounts associated with the Chinese government, fabricating and spreading disinformation about the pandemic or simply false information. By questioning US subsidised-laboratories from the former USSR, China is spinning away the attention from its own laboratory at Wuhan, while other related accounts sculpting China as a model for others to follow in combating the virus.
China’s spread of disinformation is not limited to social media, but also state-subsidised international media such as China Daily, Global Times, and China Global Television Network (CGTN). The official stated that Beijing aims to propagate the idea that Chinese government is leading the world in fighting the pandemic, while the West is incapable of protecting their citizens or helping other countries.
#COVID19 #CCP #SocialMedia #Propaganda #Censorship #US #Disinformation #LeaGabrielle #ChineseMedia #Newsweek
Source: Apple Daily #Oct28
https://hk.appledaily.com/international/20201028/WTZOFT5YGBDF3I3WAL2YACZFJQ/
Twitter Blocked Trump’s Account; Merkel Thinks it was a Problematic Approach; French Finance Minister: Internet Giants Threaten Democracy
The personal Twitter account of the US President Donald Trump has been permanently blocked. Leaders of various countries have successively spoken out on the incident. German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated through her spokesperson that the approach of Twitter is problematic, and believed that the measure, which limited the freedom of speech, should be based on the legal framework and the legislature, rather than, decided by the social media management. Michael McCormack, the Acting Prime Minister of Australia, also indicated that he disagrees with the censorship. However, opposition leaders expressed their supports on Twitter’s decision and believed that people who spread hatred and lies should lose their voicing platform.
Angela Merkel responded through her spokesperson Steffen Seibert that the freedom of speech is “the fundamental rights with core meanings”. “Limitations on the basic right must be based on law and complying with the framework defined by the legislator, instead of based on the decision made by the management of social media”. Seibert also said that social media operations have a great social responsibility for hate, incitement to violence and other speeches, which should not be ignored. The platform’s practices of making relevant speeches in the past few months were commendable.
Other European leaders also responded to this incident. French Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire, indicated that a private entrepreneur should not decide whether to block an account. He was shocked by the action of Twitter blocking Trump’s account. He added internet giants bring threats to the US and democracy, and that countries and legislative council should take the responsibility to manage social media.
#US #UnitedStates #France #BrunoLeMaire #Germany #AngelaMerkel #SteffenSeibert #Australia #Twitter #FreedomOfSpeech #FreedomIsNotFree #Democracy #SocialMedia #AcountBlocked
Source from: The Stand News #Jan12
https://bit.ly/3982hEh
The personal Twitter account of the US President Donald Trump has been permanently blocked. Leaders of various countries have successively spoken out on the incident. German Chancellor Angela Merkel stated through her spokesperson that the approach of Twitter is problematic, and believed that the measure, which limited the freedom of speech, should be based on the legal framework and the legislature, rather than, decided by the social media management. Michael McCormack, the Acting Prime Minister of Australia, also indicated that he disagrees with the censorship. However, opposition leaders expressed their supports on Twitter’s decision and believed that people who spread hatred and lies should lose their voicing platform.
Angela Merkel responded through her spokesperson Steffen Seibert that the freedom of speech is “the fundamental rights with core meanings”. “Limitations on the basic right must be based on law and complying with the framework defined by the legislator, instead of based on the decision made by the management of social media”. Seibert also said that social media operations have a great social responsibility for hate, incitement to violence and other speeches, which should not be ignored. The platform’s practices of making relevant speeches in the past few months were commendable.
Other European leaders also responded to this incident. French Finance Minister, Bruno Le Maire, indicated that a private entrepreneur should not decide whether to block an account. He was shocked by the action of Twitter blocking Trump’s account. He added internet giants bring threats to the US and democracy, and that countries and legislative council should take the responsibility to manage social media.
#US #UnitedStates #France #BrunoLeMaire #Germany #AngelaMerkel #SteffenSeibert #Australia #Twitter #FreedomOfSpeech #FreedomIsNotFree #Democracy #SocialMedia #AcountBlocked
Source from: The Stand News #Jan12
https://bit.ly/3982hEh
#Censorship #PoliticalArrest #ThisisChina
Chinese Authorities Arrest Former Reporter and Netizen for Weibo Comments
On February 19, 2021, China’s state broadcaster released footage of China-India border clash in June 2020, in which four Chinese #PLA soldiers were killed.
On the same day, former Chinese reporter Chou Ze-ming (仇子明) wrote on his #Weibo page ridiculing the Chinese troop commander who survived the clash. He also questioned the casualties of the clash could be more than four.
Chao’s Weibo account was reportedly put to freeze for one year. On February 20, 2021, Chao was even arrested and detained on suspicion of "provoking disturbances". Another citizen, surnamed Chan was also arrested for spreading comments denigrating Chinese soldiers.
Source: Stand News; #Feb20
#MassSurveillance #ChineseNetizens #ChaoZeMing #SocialMedia
Chinese Authorities Arrest Former Reporter and Netizen for Weibo Comments
On February 19, 2021, China’s state broadcaster released footage of China-India border clash in June 2020, in which four Chinese #PLA soldiers were killed.
On the same day, former Chinese reporter Chou Ze-ming (仇子明) wrote on his #Weibo page ridiculing the Chinese troop commander who survived the clash. He also questioned the casualties of the clash could be more than four.
Chao’s Weibo account was reportedly put to freeze for one year. On February 20, 2021, Chao was even arrested and detained on suspicion of "provoking disturbances". Another citizen, surnamed Chan was also arrested for spreading comments denigrating Chinese soldiers.
Source: Stand News; #Feb20
#MassSurveillance #ChineseNetizens #ChaoZeMing #SocialMedia
Huawei Launches Internal Investigation as Fake Accounts Manipulate Its Social Media. Twitter: Conclusive Evidence may Lead to Permanent Blocking
Chinese telecoms company Huawei has been aggressively exploring overseas markets in recent years, but there have also been concerns about its rise and the manipulation of online media. The research firm Graphika found that during Belgium's reconsideration of its 5G policy, Twitter was flooded with fake accounts claiming to support Huawei. The Financial Times also found that Huawei's top executives, who had only used their Twitter accounts to issue press releases, had an unusually large number of followers. Twitter said that it had taken action against thousands of fake fans of Huawei executives' accounts, while Huawei admitted that the company had not done enough to comply with the rules of the social platform.
An international research firm Graphika released A 33-page study on Thursday saying that a new wave of manipulation on social media comes as the Belgian government revisits its 5G network policy and considers restricting "high-risk vendors" such as Huawei from building the country's 5G systems. At first, at least 14 Twitter accounts posing as telecoms experts, writers and academics shared pro-Huawei posts attacking Belgium's new policy. Graphika analyzed as fake photos and followers believed to be robots, despite their personal photos and occupations.
Source: Stand News #Jan31
https://bit.ly/2NZSwzS
#Huawei #Twitter #fakeaccounts #socialmedia #telecom #ChineseTelecom #Belgium #Graphika
Chinese telecoms company Huawei has been aggressively exploring overseas markets in recent years, but there have also been concerns about its rise and the manipulation of online media. The research firm Graphika found that during Belgium's reconsideration of its 5G policy, Twitter was flooded with fake accounts claiming to support Huawei. The Financial Times also found that Huawei's top executives, who had only used their Twitter accounts to issue press releases, had an unusually large number of followers. Twitter said that it had taken action against thousands of fake fans of Huawei executives' accounts, while Huawei admitted that the company had not done enough to comply with the rules of the social platform.
An international research firm Graphika released A 33-page study on Thursday saying that a new wave of manipulation on social media comes as the Belgian government revisits its 5G network policy and considers restricting "high-risk vendors" such as Huawei from building the country's 5G systems. At first, at least 14 Twitter accounts posing as telecoms experts, writers and academics shared pro-Huawei posts attacking Belgium's new policy. Graphika analyzed as fake photos and followers believed to be robots, despite their personal photos and occupations.
Source: Stand News #Jan31
https://bit.ly/2NZSwzS
#Huawei #Twitter #fakeaccounts #socialmedia #telecom #ChineseTelecom #Belgium #Graphika
#SocialMedia #Censorship
#LINE Reportedly Forbids the Mentioning of "Tiananmen Incident"
According to a Japanese netizen, the instant text messanger LINE bans the phrase "Tiananmen Incident" in its memo function "Keep".
The Tiananmen Incident generally refers to the Tiananmen Square Massacre on June 4, 1989 in Beijing.
The original post in Twitter was, however, removed.
Source: Internet #Mar23
https://twitter.com/SKYTAN_DAYO/status/1374645384908259331
https://www.facebook.com/100034668333390/posts/492584131907194/?d=n
#June4th #Tiananmen
#LINE Reportedly Forbids the Mentioning of "Tiananmen Incident"
According to a Japanese netizen, the instant text messanger LINE bans the phrase "Tiananmen Incident" in its memo function "Keep".
The Tiananmen Incident generally refers to the Tiananmen Square Massacre on June 4, 1989 in Beijing.
The original post in Twitter was, however, removed.
Source: Internet #Mar23
https://twitter.com/SKYTAN_DAYO/status/1374645384908259331
https://www.facebook.com/100034668333390/posts/492584131907194/?d=n
#June4th #Tiananmen
How China is stoking racial tensions in the West
Footage of a brutal late March attack on a 65-year-old Asian American woman in Manhattan drew widespread outrage on social media. It also made for a productive afternoon for Zhao Lijian. From his Beijing office, the Chinese government spokesman retweeted 20 posts and shared the video 12 times on his official Twitter account. ‘We can’t help but wonder, who will be the next victim? When will it all end?’ he asked his almost 900,000 followers
Source: Spectator #May02
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-china-is-stoking-racial-tensions-in-the-west
#China #CCP #SocialMedia #Twitter #Facebook
Footage of a brutal late March attack on a 65-year-old Asian American woman in Manhattan drew widespread outrage on social media. It also made for a productive afternoon for Zhao Lijian. From his Beijing office, the Chinese government spokesman retweeted 20 posts and shared the video 12 times on his official Twitter account. ‘We can’t help but wonder, who will be the next victim? When will it all end?’ he asked his almost 900,000 followers
Source: Spectator #May02
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-china-is-stoking-racial-tensions-in-the-west
#China #CCP #SocialMedia #Twitter #Facebook
#Censorship #ChinessInternet
#SocialMedia account of #China's #Xiaohongshu goes dark after #Tiananmen anniversary post
//A social media account for popular Chinese e-commerce site Xiaohongshu, or "Little Red Book," was unavailable on Sunday, after it issued a post on Friday, the anniversary of the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy activists in #TiananmenSquare, a highly sensitive date in China.
The Friday post on its account on China's #Weibo said, "Tell me loud: what's the date today?", according to a screenshot seen by Reuters.
That post was quickly deleted by Xiaohongshu, according to a person familiar with the matter, who declined to be named given its sensitivity.
The company, backed by Chinese internet giants Alibaba (9988.HK) and Tencent (0700.HK), did not immediately reply to a request for comment...//
Source: Reuters #Jun6
http://www.reuters.com/world/china/social-media-account-chinas-xiaohongshu-goes-dark-after-tiananmen-anniversary-2021-06-06/
#SocialMedia account of #China's #Xiaohongshu goes dark after #Tiananmen anniversary post
//A social media account for popular Chinese e-commerce site Xiaohongshu, or "Little Red Book," was unavailable on Sunday, after it issued a post on Friday, the anniversary of the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy activists in #TiananmenSquare, a highly sensitive date in China.
The Friday post on its account on China's #Weibo said, "Tell me loud: what's the date today?", according to a screenshot seen by Reuters.
That post was quickly deleted by Xiaohongshu, according to a person familiar with the matter, who declined to be named given its sensitivity.
The company, backed by Chinese internet giants Alibaba (9988.HK) and Tencent (0700.HK), did not immediately reply to a request for comment...//
Source: Reuters #Jun6
http://www.reuters.com/world/china/social-media-account-chinas-xiaohongshu-goes-dark-after-tiananmen-anniversary-2021-06-06/
#Court #WhiteTerror
Hong Kong Court Rules Pro-democracy Activists Guilty of Inciting and Joining "Unauthorized Assembly" Based on Social Media Posts
#June4 #TiananmenMassacre #Regime #SocialMedia
Source: Stand News; #Dec9
Read more
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Hong Kong Court Rules Pro-democracy Activists Guilty of Inciting and Joining "Unauthorized Assembly" Based on Social Media Posts
#June4 #TiananmenMassacre #Regime #SocialMedia
Source: Stand News; #Dec9
Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
#Court #WhiteTerror
Hong Kong Court Rules Pro-democracy Activists Guilty of Inciting and Joining "Unauthorized Assembly" Based on Social Media Posts
In Hong Kong court on December 8, 2021, Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai, barrister Chow Hang-tung and former Stand News reporter Gywneth Ho were found guilty of "inciting people" to join the annual June 4 candlelight vigil, commemorating the victims of the 1989 Beijing Tiananmen Massacre, in 2020.
The District Court based its ruling on a few assumptions: The court suspected Lai of participating in the conference outside Victoria Park held by the now-defunct Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, as Lai had chanted slogan with some members of the Alliance. The magistrate accused Lai of being a public figure as his appearance drew public attention to the unauthorized assembly. He needs not use words of incitement to intend to incite others.
The judge accused Chow, the then vice-chairperson of the Alliance, of writing a Facebook post "See you tonight" with “an implicit intention of asking people to join her in Victoria Park”.
The judge also presumed Ho that she had participated in so-called 'unauthorized assembly", as she uploaded a photo with a white flower and a white candle on her Facebook page.
#June4 #TiananmenMassacre #Regime #SocialMedia
Source: Stand News #Dec9
https://thestandnews.page.link/Hc5npuPa2ipPZ4g59
Hong Kong Court Rules Pro-democracy Activists Guilty of Inciting and Joining "Unauthorized Assembly" Based on Social Media Posts
In Hong Kong court on December 8, 2021, Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai, barrister Chow Hang-tung and former Stand News reporter Gywneth Ho were found guilty of "inciting people" to join the annual June 4 candlelight vigil, commemorating the victims of the 1989 Beijing Tiananmen Massacre, in 2020.
The District Court based its ruling on a few assumptions: The court suspected Lai of participating in the conference outside Victoria Park held by the now-defunct Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, as Lai had chanted slogan with some members of the Alliance. The magistrate accused Lai of being a public figure as his appearance drew public attention to the unauthorized assembly. He needs not use words of incitement to intend to incite others.
The judge accused Chow, the then vice-chairperson of the Alliance, of writing a Facebook post "See you tonight" with “an implicit intention of asking people to join her in Victoria Park”.
The judge also presumed Ho that she had participated in so-called 'unauthorized assembly", as she uploaded a photo with a white flower and a white candle on her Facebook page.
#June4 #TiananmenMassacre #Regime #SocialMedia
Source: Stand News #Dec9
https://thestandnews.page.link/Hc5npuPa2ipPZ4g59
#Regime #WhiteTerror
HK Government Arrest at least 10 Civilians for 'Inciting' #BlankVotes in “Patriots-only” #LegCoElection
As of December 16, 2021, the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption (#ICAC) has arrested a total of 10 civilians suspected of "inciting" others not to vote, or to cast invalid votes.
The latest two civilians were arrested and accused of sharing a social media post by democrat and former lawmaker #TedHui, who is in self-imposed exile in Australia. In the post, Hui called for Hongkongers to cast blank votes in the upcoming “patriots only” legislative election as a form of “silent protest.”
Responding to the arrest, Hui wrote on his Facebook page that “I’m confident and I believe, HongKongers, who know the true meaning of ‘#BeWater’, would know what to do on election day.”
This time, Hui added a prominent disclaimer to this facebook post, which wrote “the tyranny has been making rampant arrests. Avoid public dissemination, but please share the post privately.”
Source: Inmediahk.net; #Dec16
https://bit.ly/3Fd6nZ2
#Elections #CCP #LegCo #Protest #SocialMedia #Censorship
HK Government Arrest at least 10 Civilians for 'Inciting' #BlankVotes in “Patriots-only” #LegCoElection
As of December 16, 2021, the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption (#ICAC) has arrested a total of 10 civilians suspected of "inciting" others not to vote, or to cast invalid votes.
The latest two civilians were arrested and accused of sharing a social media post by democrat and former lawmaker #TedHui, who is in self-imposed exile in Australia. In the post, Hui called for Hongkongers to cast blank votes in the upcoming “patriots only” legislative election as a form of “silent protest.”
Responding to the arrest, Hui wrote on his Facebook page that “I’m confident and I believe, HongKongers, who know the true meaning of ‘#BeWater’, would know what to do on election day.”
This time, Hui added a prominent disclaimer to this facebook post, which wrote “the tyranny has been making rampant arrests. Avoid public dissemination, but please share the post privately.”
Source: Inmediahk.net; #Dec16
https://bit.ly/3Fd6nZ2
#Elections #CCP #LegCo #Protest #SocialMedia #Censorship
獨立媒體
廉署起訴兩人轉載投白票貼文 許智峯FB提示「濫捕猖獗、不宜公開轉載」 | 獨媒報導 | 獨立媒體
（獨媒報導）廉政公署至今拘捕10人，指他們涉嫌在社交媒體專頁轉載呼籲杯葛選舉的貼文。廉署今再發新聞稿，起訴其中兩人，案件將在下周二在觀塘法院提堂。許智峯的 Facebook 專頁亦於今日刊出一篇外媒訪問，再次提及「我有信心，be water 的香港人，深知投票當日要做什麼」，但該貼文特別附加提示「暴政濫捕猖獗，傳播宜私下進行，不公開轉載」。 廉署新
#Propaganda #CCP
Buying Influence: How China Manipulates #Facebook and #Twitter
//...a new set of documents reviewed by The New York Times reveals in stark detail how Chinese officials tap private businesses to generate content on demand, draw followers, track critics and provide other services for information campaigns. That operation increasingly plays out on international platforms like Facebook and Twitter, which the Chinese government blocks at home.
The documents, which were part of a request for bids from contractors, offer a rare glimpse into how China’s vast bureaucracy works to spread propaganda and to sculpt opinion on global social media. They were taken offline after The Times contacted the Chinese government about them...
A separate document reviewed by The Times shows that the same local branch of Shanghai police purchased video-making services from a different company in November. The police asked the supplier to provide at least 20 videos a month and to distribute those on domestic and overseas social media. The document referred to the task as original video production that would be used to fight the “battle of public opinion.”
Earlier this year, a New York Times and ProPublica analysis showed howthousands of videos portraying members of the Uyghur ethnic minority living happy and free lives were a key part of an information campaign that Twitter ultimately attributed to the Chinese Communist Party...
Work like what Shanghai Cloud Link pitched is likely just the tip of the iceberg. Local governments and police across China have put out similar requests for services to influence overseas social media, but often in vague terms. Occasionally, specifics are revealed.
In 2017, for instance, the police in Inner Mongolia purchased software that allowed government trolls to post directly to multiple social media sites, inside and outside of China, according to documents reviewed by The Times.
In another case, a contractor had downloaded hundreds of access credentials for Facebook’s public feed, allowing it to collect data about who commented on which posts and when.//
Read the full article:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/12/20/technology/china-facebook-twitter-influence-manipulation.htmlb
Source: New York Times #Dec20
#Manipulation #PublicOpinionManagement #SocialMedia #Meta #Disinformation #MadeinChina #CCPRules
Buying Influence: How China Manipulates #Facebook and #Twitter
//...a new set of documents reviewed by The New York Times reveals in stark detail how Chinese officials tap private businesses to generate content on demand, draw followers, track critics and provide other services for information campaigns. That operation increasingly plays out on international platforms like Facebook and Twitter, which the Chinese government blocks at home.
The documents, which were part of a request for bids from contractors, offer a rare glimpse into how China’s vast bureaucracy works to spread propaganda and to sculpt opinion on global social media. They were taken offline after The Times contacted the Chinese government about them...
A separate document reviewed by The Times shows that the same local branch of Shanghai police purchased video-making services from a different company in November. The police asked the supplier to provide at least 20 videos a month and to distribute those on domestic and overseas social media. The document referred to the task as original video production that would be used to fight the “battle of public opinion.”
Earlier this year, a New York Times and ProPublica analysis showed howthousands of videos portraying members of the Uyghur ethnic minority living happy and free lives were a key part of an information campaign that Twitter ultimately attributed to the Chinese Communist Party...
Work like what Shanghai Cloud Link pitched is likely just the tip of the iceberg. Local governments and police across China have put out similar requests for services to influence overseas social media, but often in vague terms. Occasionally, specifics are revealed.
In 2017, for instance, the police in Inner Mongolia purchased software that allowed government trolls to post directly to multiple social media sites, inside and outside of China, according to documents reviewed by The Times.
In another case, a contractor had downloaded hundreds of access credentials for Facebook’s public feed, allowing it to collect data about who commented on which posts and when.//
Read the full article:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/12/20/technology/china-facebook-twitter-influence-manipulation.htmlb
Source: New York Times #Dec20
#Manipulation #PublicOpinionManagement #SocialMedia #Meta #Disinformation #MadeinChina #CCPRules