Twitter running Chinese-backed ads against Hong Kong protesters

[midian182]

What just happened? The mixing of controversial politics and social media is nothing new, but in this instance, the platform itself has taken a more active role in pushing a message. Users have discovered that Twitter is running ads from Chinese state media attacking the Hong Kong protesters.

The government-backed Xinhua news agency has been paying Twitter to promote its tweets, which say the protesters are "escalating violence" and calls for "order to be restored."

The protests began as opposition to a bill proposed by the Hong Kong government, which would have allowed the extradition of criminals incarcerated in Hong Kong to China. While the bill was suspended on June 15, pro-democracy demonstrations have continued.

Social bookmarking site Pinboard highlighted the ads, tweeting that Twitter is "taking money from Chinese propaganda outfits and running promoted ads against top Hong Kong protest hashtags."

Every day I go out and see stuff with my own eyes, and then I go to report it on Twitter and see promoted tweets saying the opposite of what I saw. Twitter is taking money from Chinese propaganda outfits and running these promoted tweets against the top Hong Kong protest hashtags pic.twitter.com/6Wb0Km6GOb

— Pinboard (@Pinboard) August 17, 2019

The revelations put Twitter, which is one of many websites banned in mainland China, in a dilemma. Running the ads is going to look bad for the company in most people’s eyes, but the platform could face a backlash from free-speech supporters if it is seen to be blocking ads from a major publication, even one that is considered a Chinese government mouthpiece.

#XinhuaView: The chaos in Hong Kong must come to an immediate end in order to protect the city's economy and the well-being of its 7.5 million people pic.twitter.com/ZAxNZUTPRm

— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) August 15, 2019

Both Twitter and Facebook have been fighting Russian electoral interference and propaganda on their respective platforms for several years now, and while the ads aren’t as subtle, it could open the site up to claims of hypocrisy, especially with it being paid to show them.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/81502-twitter-running-chinese-backed-ads-against-hong-kong.html

 

[tkabou]

Twitter, the supposed bastion and protector or free speech. They've become just another politicized platform for the communists, both abroad and domestic, no less.

 

[gigantor21]

Twitter, the supposed bastion and protector or free speech. They've become just another politicized platform for the communists, both abroad and domestic, no less.

Their commitment to free expression has always been selective and self-serving. Just like all the other social media platforms.

Dorsey and Zuckerberg and the like are snakes.

 

[retsxel]

Twitter has been on it's way out for a long time... Needs to just die already..

 

[p51d007]

Twitter, fakebook or any other social media platform, will play to whomever PAYS THEM THE MOST.
If the communist Chinese are paying them, they will promote what they want, and block everything else.

 

[Evernessince]

Twitter, the supposed bastion and protector or free speech. They've become just another politicized platform for the communists, both abroad and domestic, no less.

Their commitment to free expression has always been selective and self-serving. Just like all the other social media platforms.

Dorsey and Zuckerberg and the like are snakes.

Makes sense, they have shareholders who want maximum profits. Unless they are going to get in trouble for more money then they are making, they will continue to do whatever makes them the most.

 

[Nobina]

Twitter, the supposed bastion and protector or free speech.

Were they ever? I've been missing out then.

 

[treetops]

Yeah this is why Trump never uses Twitter, it's useless.

 

[Danny101]

Is anyone really surprised?

 

[Impudicus]

Twitter, like all the other major social media platforms are in the business of selling ad space. That is their product, who ever spends the most on the product has a lot on influence in what the company does. And that only changes when those ads affect selling more ads.