BRAVO! U.N. Backs Down on Partnership With Chinese Telecommunications Giant for 75th Anniversary

UN backtracked on a pact with Chinese telecommunications giant Tencent Holdings to provide videoconferencing for the international organization’s 75th anniversary, following backlash from U.S. officials and lawmakers as well as human rights groups. UN sparked firestorms by enlisting Chinese social media giant to serve as platform for online discussions on UN's future. US human rights advocates pressed UN to rescind, as tarnishing UN’s reputation as champion of free expression. Privacy advocates pointed out Tencent abetted China’s surveillance state and censorship. Beijing exerted control over information on coronavirus during the outbreak. Tencent’s WeChat scrubbed keywords in December, as Financial Times reported, hindering both Chinese citizens’ and foreign countries’ access to information on the outbreak early on. The  Times reported on the United Nations’ relationship with Tencent.