The Citizen Lab

Censorship on WeChat and other Chinese social media platforms is dynamic and reactive to events. WeChat recently blocked references to June 4 along with mentions of #COVID19 and China's recent National Security Law for Hong Kong. #6431truth t.co/o7SoULDZNA

In May 2020, the Hong Kong government extended its #COVID19 social distancing measures to June 4. The extended period covers the annual #TiananmenSquare Massacre vigil in Victoria Park, an event which attracts hundreds of thousands of people. #6431truth t.co/1IN3tbqH2A t.co/iMh1VqLZKn

In June 2020, we discovered that WeChat censors references to commemorations of the event as well as police responses to June 4-related memorials and activism in #HongKong. #6431truth t.co/ZWHI7DLNpW

Citizen Lab has been monitoring how WeChat, the most popular social media app in China, censors information since 2015. References to #June4 are consistently censored on WeChat. #6431truth t.co/TQSCXar8u3

Censored June 4-related keywords often include general and coded references to the #1989TiananmenMovement, references to the anniversaries of the event, and symbolic figures of the movement. #6431truth t.co/VMbFTPmIMT t.co/IXBPgnSU65

June 4, 1989: Chinese military carries out a brutal crackdown on demonstrations calling for democratic reform, leading to deaths estimated to be between hundreds & thousands. This remains one of the most censored topics on the Internet in China. #6431truth t.co/VMbFTPmIMT t.co/mfqj3WGDqW

June 4 is a red line issue in China. Blacklisted keywords related to the event are found on the majority of apps studied by Citizen Lab from 2009 to 2019, with a total of 3,584 June 4 keywords collected. #6431truth t.co/g2suZjuhQd t.co/jyz2vazTFj

June 4, 2020 marks the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. To help commemorate, today we'll be posting examples of censored keywords from WeChat, YY, and other social media platforms in China. #6341truth t.co/WW3e9xNN4M

C-59 is a complex omnibus bill that amended, updated or replaced elements from 20 pieces of existing legislation. @caparsons & @JoshGold3 analyze it for @just_security, including provisions that give @cse_cst new powers to conduct active cyber operations. t.co/VkyHoouEN0

As we kick off Pride month, we need your help in documenting LGBTQI censorship around the world. Thankfully, it takes just two easy steps: Step 1: Install the @OpenObservatory mobile app Step 2: Run the LGBTQI test: t.co/KRVTritn7Q #LGBTQ #Censorship #PRIDE2020 t.co/xJ3427sNZg

This Tuesday, @RonDeibert chats with Jeffrey Knockel about the inner mechanisms of Chinese social media censorship. Give us a follow on Instagram and check it out t.co/8FVL9jETwx t.co/f0ufcbhfHg

ICYMI: @irenepoet discusses the tensions between contract tracing and privacy protection t.co/thv168Cnm9

Today at 12:00 pm EST: @RonDeibert in conversation with the indomitable @nouraaljizawi. Give us a follow on Instagram and check it out t.co/KzQIpESri0 t.co/OAtQtUBja3

Great overview of @OpenTechFund fellow Alexei Abrahams' work investigating social media influence, manipulation, and impact in the Middle East. @abulkhaezuran t.co/ou4diNcX3s

This Friday, @RonDeibert speaks with @nouraaljizawi about how she went from the target of a Syrian malware operation to a researcher resolved to supporting marginalized communities against digital threats. t.co/KzQIpESri0 t.co/rfEz9XhOvk

ICYMI watch @caparsons discuss encryption and the government backdoor access proposals that threaten Canadian health and security online t.co/mn6YVKTWfa

"We want to avoid a situation where we have a human rights crisis that persists beyond a health crisis."- @irenepoet t.co/thv168Cnm9

"While the virus may be defeated by self-isolation measures and scientific innovation, the same cannot be said for the conditions which facilitate abuse towards women, children, and girls." @admmo & @caparsons t.co/XtiZBJMQbs

Today at 2:00 pm EST, @caparsons will take part in a panel on the heightened role of encryption in light of COVID-19. Relevant background Citizen Lab reading below ⬇️⬇️⬇️ t.co/S6fA8uB2k2

▶️ 微信监控非中国大陆区注册账号，并利用非中国大陆区账号之间的聊天记录训练微信针对中国大陆账号的审查系统。 ▶️ 监控和审查均不会提示用户，缺乏透明。 ▶️ 微信对外公开的政策协议文件，个人信息请求，及微信的隐私专员均没有表明或解释微信会进行内容监控。 t.co/HOXvSoAP6u

Q: What are the potential legal issues around finding that WeChat surveils chats of int'l users? A: Privacy regulators could fine the company for misleading users, app stores could delist the product, & gov committees could investigate WeChat. t.co/ZaKuTb7C5v t.co/to6RaRnP85

This Friday, @RonDeibert speaks with legacy Labber Jakub Dalek about censorship, network measurement, and Cold War-era political simulation video game posters. t.co/KzQIpESri0 t.co/3HTTzENNT2

“The heightened level of anxiety means citizens are dependent on getting access to health information, often working at home. That anxiety means people are more likely click on something malicious."- @RonDeibert t.co/6F0nGagj6X

“NSO’s case is the precedent that proves the problem: rushed COVID-19 tracking efforts will imperil our privacy and online safety"- @jsrailton t.co/EkRrxr00Lf

Friday morning at 10:00 am EST, @RonDeibert chats with @lotus_ruan about her latest research, including findings that WeChat surveils non-China registered accounts to build up its political censorship system. t.co/KzQIpESri0 t.co/Vg9QV9rwD4

公民实验室2020年5月7日发布报告指出，中国最流行的社交媒体软件微信是对平台上的文档和图像内容实施监控，并使用监控所得的数据训练其审查系统。我们总结了该报告，并列举与研究团队的一些常见问答。 t.co/HOXvSoSqv4

What is the scale of censorship in China? How does censorship work on WeChat? What is an MD5 hash? To supplement our latest report on WeChat surveillance, we've put together a summary document that includes a Q&A with our research team. t.co/ZaKuTb7C5v

“I would urge international users to consider that, as you use this platform, you’re actually helping to strengthen digital repression in China.”- @RonDeibert t.co/MlvQIA9LfZ

NEW REPORT: We Chat, They Watch: How International Users Unwittingly Build up WeChat’s Chinese Censorship Apparatus t.co/Tqwe5trvKi