Twitter is blocked in China, but its state news agency is buying promoted tweets
Twitter just posted this statement: <a href="https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2019/information_operations_directed_at_Hong_Kong.html" rel="nofollow">https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2019/informati...</a><p>And a new policy banning all state-controlled media from advertising: <a href="https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2019/advertising_policies_on_state_media.html" rel="nofollow">https://blog.twitter.com/en_us/topics/company/2019/advertisi...</a><p>I think this is an interesting example of recent discussions about the disproportionate influence of social media companies on information. Obviously, it doesn't seem right for a government to manipulate public conversation. But it's also worrisome that a single company has the power to shut down an entire government trying to spread its ideas. In this instance it's well justified, but it feels a little scary that the flow of information is policed by a couple private individuals with very little oversight. I don't have any particular opinions here on what might need to change, if anything - just thinking out loud.