China suspends social media accounts of Covid policy critics

BBC ^ | George Wright

[BenLurkin]

China has taken down more than 1,000 social media accounts - some with millions of followers - that criticised the government's Covid policies.

Social media platform Weibo said it had suspended or banned accounts for what it described as personal attacks against Chinese Covid specialists.

Weibo did not specify which posts had prompted the action.

China scrapped its strict zero-Covid policy in December and has seen a rapid surge of infections and deaths.

Online criticism has until recently largely focused on the strict enforcement of Covid regulations, including lockdowns that required people to stay at home in isolation for weeks.

But recent posts have taken aim at experts who have defended the sudden decision to drop restrictions, despite supporting them just weeks ago.

Weibo said it had spotted almost 13,000 violations, including attacks on experts, scholars and medical workers. Temporary or permanent bans have been handed to 1,120 accounts.

[rlmorel]

I am certain that if these folks did not already have a “red” QR code that must be green to go anywhere outside their homes, they were turned red at the same time.

[SgtHooper]

LOL! The chinks learning cheap tricks from the US. How times have changed.

[Chgogal]

Biden’s Weaponized Banana Republic is teaching China new tricks. How los has the US sunk.

[glorgau]

The British and American governments are sooooooo jealous of the Chinese.