WeChat bans Microsoft’s Chinese chatbot as China tightens censorship of online speech

On Chinese social media, there’s nothing unusual about users getting suspended or permanently banned for discussing politically sensitive topics, either privately or publicly. But many were surprised to see a chatbot get banned.

Photo credit: Copyright: tangducminh / 123RF Stock Photo.

Xiaobing, Microsoft’s Chinese chatbot, isn’t an assistant like Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri. Microsoft says that Xiaobing is a “virtual companion,” able to make conversation with users – usually with some sass thrown in.

But now it’s been banned by Tencent for a third time. Tencent left a message on Xiaobing’s WeChat page, saying that the chatbot had violated a regulation, one that targets public social media accounts. But Tencent didn’t say what Xiaobing actually did to violate that regulation.

Xiaobing had previously been pulled from Tencent platforms WeChat and QQ in 2014 and 2017 over privacy concerns and politically sensitive speech, respectively. There’s no indication whether this latest ban is temporary or will last longer.

None of the functions previously available on Xiaobing’s WeChat account and mini-program are accessible anymore. Abacus has reached out to both Tencent and Microsoft for comment, but we haven’t heard back.

The Microsoft chatbot may not be missed by many, as it’s not very popular in China. It’s not widely used on smart speakers like Alexa in the US, as Chinese consumers still haven’t adopted the devices on a large scale. Domestic smart speaker vendors have also mostly relied on their own voice assistants.

Xiaobing’s strength isn’t in performing tasks, anyway. The Chinese users who appreciate Xiaobing are more likely drawn to it for more social reasons. The bot became known for its sassy responses, sometimes including stickers and memes, and its ability to write songs and poems.

That’s why some users are sad about the disappearance of their favorite chatbot.

“Xiaobing, I hope that you’ll be a good person once you’re out of jail,” one Weibo user wrote. “I’ll always be waiting for you, and you’ll still be my wife after you’re out.”

Others are guessing that Xiaobing’s ban is political, as China’s control on online speech is tighter than ever.

“Even AI can’t escape the [censors’] grasping hands,” a Weibo user commented.

“Did Xiaobing say something politically incorrect?” asked another.

Some of this speculation stems from Xiaobing’s suspension in 2017 over a remark deemed politically sensitive.