WeChat clamps down on political content, bans several outspoken bloggers

One Beijing-based writer with access to Twitter posted the following screenshot, showing several recently-blocked accounts. She tweets, “R.I.P. free WeChat.”

The accounts still exist, but their content is replaced with a terse message. The English version reads:

This account has violated WeChat Admin Platform policies and has been forbidden from using all Official Account features.

The Chinese version reads a bit differently. Here’s our translation:

Due to reports from users that have been confirmed, all functions for this public account have been shut down for violating regulations. We suggest you cancel your subscription.

WeChat’s role as a news reader app

SCMP reports some of the accounts were followed by hundreds of thousands of subscribers. They ranged from individual columnists to accounts run by major media outlets like Netease (NASDAQ:NTES).

WeChat introduced subscription and service accounts some time in 2012 so users could follow celebrities, brands, and news. The ‘subscription’ accounts have since evolved into a sort of blogging platform where influential figures and ordinary people can find an audience for their writing.

Tencent (HKG:0700) has made its compliance with government pressures on free speech known since WeChat’s inception. All official account holders must enter information from their national ID, and all subscription accounts on WeChat come with a “report” button at the bottom right of the content page. Still, the abrupt shutdown of these official accounts marks the first major clean sweep on WeChat that we’ve seen.