While Twitter loves censoring conservatives, the platform is often hesitant to take action against other world leaders. However, the platform has finally taken at least a little action against harmful propaganda from China.
Twitter has temporarily locked the account of the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. following outrage about a tweet claiming that Uyghur Muslim women are “emancipated” by China’s treatment toward the ethnic group in the Xinjiang province.
A Twitter spokesperson confirmed in a statement to TechWatch that “[t]he account is temporarily locked until the violative Tweet is deleted.”
“Study shows that in the process of eradicating extremism, the minds of Uygur women in Xinjiang were emancipated and gender equality and reproductive health were promoted, making them no longer baby-making machines,” said the original tweet from the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. “They are more confident and independent.”
The tweet included a link to an article from China Daily (a propaganda outlet The Washington Post took money from) entitled “Eradication of extremism has given Xinjiang women more autonomy, says report.” China Daily is an official propaganda publication of the Chinese government. The tweet has since been blocked by Twitter, with a notice that said: “This Tweet is no longer available. Learn more.”
In reality, rather than being liberated, Uyghur women undergo horrific treatment, such as forced sterilization and abortion, according to an Associated Press (AP) report. “The population control measures are backed by mass detention both as a threat and as a punishment for failure to comply,” noted AP.
Lest we be too eager to praise Twitter for this, let’s also remember the times that the platform has not taken action against blatant Chinese propaganda. It allowed Lijian Zhao, the spokesperson for the Information Department of China’s Foreign Ministry to scapegoat the U.S. military as the source of COVID-19. The platform also allowed a video from the Chinese embassy in France entitled “Once Upon a Virus” to be posted on the platform. The video contained several myths and even suggested that the Chinese government and the World Health Organization were forthcoming about the virus.
Conservatives are under attack. Contact Twitter at (415) 222-9670 and demand that Big Tech be held to account to mirror the First Amendment while providing transparency and protections for exploited individuals abroad. If you have been censored, contact us at the Media Research Center contact form, and help us hold Big Tech accountable.
