Twitter Censors Professor Who Mocked Chinese Communist Party
A New Zealand academic says Twitter temporarily restricted her account after she mocked Chinese President Xi Jinping.
University of Canterbury professor Anne-Marie Brady has been an outspoken critic of China’s ruling Communist Party. Last week, she sent tweets poking fun at the party’s 100th anniversary celebrations.
She said two of those tweets were temporarily marked “unavailable” by Twitter and her account was temporarily restricted over the weekend before being restored on Monday.
Twitter did not say what prompted its actions.
Edward Lucas, a columnist for The Times newspaper in Britain, wrote that it probably resulted from an online campaign of complaints by Communist Party agents that would have triggered an automatic response from Twitter while it investigated.
“After I had stoked a furor on Twitter and sent umpteen complaints, her account was restored,” Lucas wrote. “Less prominent victims of Chinese censorship would have scantier chances of redress.”
Brady tweeted her thanks to Lucas, saying that she’d been unable to get a reply from Twitter herself.
“Seems like @Twitter may have briefly forgotten they don’t work for Xi Jinping,” Brady wrote.
Seems like @Twitter may have briefly forgotten they don’t work for Xi Jinping #CPC100Years pic.twitter.com/2qtKsThoon
— Professor Anne-Marie Brady (@Anne_MarieBrady) July 4, 2021
“To set the record straight, the assertion that Twitter is in coordination with any government to suppress speech has no basis in fact whatsoever,” Twitter said. “We advocate for a free, global and open internet and remain a staunch defender of freedom of expression.”
In one tweet, Brady suggested an alternative headline for a news article about the celebrations: “Xi: its my Party and I’ll cry if I want to,” she wrote.
Alternative headline: “Xi: its my Party and I’ll cry if I want to” #CPC100Years https://t.co/eVn267Cpt2
— Professor Anne-Marie Brady (@Anne_MarieBrady) July 1, 2021
Brady said her account has been restored.
She wrote that Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Zoom and other big players in social media appeared to be “getting into the habit of silencing [Chinese Communist Party] critics.”
Some of the biggest names in social media, from @Twitter to @LinkedIn @Zoom & @Facebook, appear to be getting into a habit of silencing CCP critics. Yesterday it was my turn to be censored. Thanks for your support in getting it overturned @edwardlucas https://t.co/1V0L2qdPa3
— Professor Anne-Marie Brady (@Anne_MarieBrady) July 5, 2021
In 2017, Brady wrote a groundbreaking paper that detailed what she said were the Communist Party’s efforts to exert political influence in New Zealand. Subsequent burglaries and break-ins at her home and office remain unsolved.
The Chinese Embassy in Wellington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Chinese government has not commented on any action online against Brady and has heatedly denied accusations that it interferes with foreign media and political systems.
However, under Xi, the government has taken an increasingly combative approach toward its critics, whether individuals, organizations or foreign governments.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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