Fact Check: Chinese internet and Chinese medias have many cherry-picking, brainwashing posts and news.

The Claim: "Chinese internet and Chinese media have many cherry-picking, brainwashing posts and news."

Introduction

The assertion that "Chinese internet and Chinese media have many cherry-picking, brainwashing posts and news" suggests a systematic manipulation of information within Chinese digital and media landscapes. This claim raises concerns about the integrity of information disseminated by Chinese sources and the potential influence of government policies on public perception. To evaluate this claim, we will explore various sources that discuss the nature of media and information control in China, particularly focusing on the concepts of "brainwashing" and "cherry-picking" in news coverage.

What We Know

1. Disinformation Tactics: The U.S. State Department has accused China of employing "deceptive and coercive methods" to manipulate the global information environment, including acquiring stakes in foreign media outlets to shape narratives 2. This suggests that the Chinese government is actively involved in controlling information, which could lead to cherry-picking facts that align with state narratives.

2. Social Media Influence Operations: Reports indicate that China has been increasing its online influence operations, particularly through social media platforms. Meta has warned of these operations, although specific attribution to the Chinese government was not made in their latest report 4. This raises questions about the extent to which Chinese media may engage in selective reporting or manipulation of information.

3. Content Cleanup Efforts: In May 2023, China reportedly shut down 100,000 fake news social media accounts as part of a broader effort to combat misinformation 5. This action may reflect an acknowledgment of the prevalence of misleading content, but it also raises concerns about the government's role in controlling the narrative and potentially censoring dissenting views.

4. Brainwashing and Social Media: The concept of "brainwashing" is discussed in the context of social media's impact on behavior and thought processes. A study highlights the risks of excessive reliance on social media, suggesting that it can lead to homogeneity in thinking, which some may interpret as a form of brainwashing 1. This aligns with the claim that Chinese media may engage in such practices.

5. Academic Perspectives: The term "brainwashing" has historical roots and has been used to describe various forms of psychological manipulation, including in the context of Chinese propaganda 10. However, the academic discourse surrounding this term often lacks empirical evidence to substantiate claims of widespread brainwashing in contemporary contexts.

Analysis

The claim regarding cherry-picking and brainwashing in Chinese media is supported by several credible sources, particularly those that document the Chinese government's efforts to control information. The U.S. State Department's accusations 2 and Meta's warnings 4 are based on observations of state-sponsored disinformation campaigns, which lend credibility to concerns about selective reporting.

However, it is essential to critically evaluate the sources. The U.S. State Department may have a vested interest in portraying China negatively, which could introduce bias into their reports. Similarly, Meta's warnings may stem from their own experiences with misinformation, but the lack of specific attribution to Chinese actors in their latest report raises questions about the reliability of their claims.

Additionally, while the concept of brainwashing is discussed in various contexts, the evidence supporting its prevalence in contemporary Chinese society remains limited. The academic sources discussing brainwashing 110 often rely on historical examples or theoretical frameworks rather than empirical data from current Chinese media practices.

The notion of cherry-picking in news coverage is also complex. While some studies 8 focus on detecting such practices, they may not specifically address the Chinese context or provide concrete examples of how this manifests in Chinese media. More comprehensive studies examining the methodologies used by Chinese media outlets would be beneficial for a clearer understanding of this phenomenon.

Conclusion

Verdict: Mostly True

The claim that "Chinese internet and Chinese media have many cherry-picking, brainwashing posts and news" is supported by credible evidence indicating that the Chinese government engages in information control and manipulation. Reports from the U.S. State Department and warnings from Meta highlight the existence of disinformation tactics and influence operations that suggest selective reporting practices. Additionally, discussions around the concept of brainwashing in the context of social media align with concerns about the homogenization of thought.

However, it is important to recognize the limitations of the available evidence. Much of the discourse surrounding brainwashing lacks empirical data specific to contemporary Chinese media practices, and the potential biases of sources like the U.S. State Department must be considered. The complexity of cherry-picking in news coverage also necessitates further research to draw definitive conclusions about its prevalence in Chinese media.

Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate information from various sources and remain aware of the nuances involved in claims regarding media manipulation and information control.

Sources

1. Brainwashing by Social Media: A Threat to Freedom, a Risk for ... (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9597644/)
2. China Uses 'Deceptive' Methods to Sow Disinformation, U.S. Says (https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/28/technology/china-disinformation-us-state-department.html)
3. Brainwashing - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainwashing)
4. Meta warns that China is stepping up its online social media influence operations (https://www.npr.org/2023/11/30/1215898523/meta-warns-china-online-social-media-influence-operations-facebook-elections)
5. China shuts 100,000 fake news social media accounts, ramps up content cleanup | Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-shuts-100000-fake-news-social-media-accounts-ramps-up-content-cleanup-2023-05-17/)
6. China is using the world's largest known online disinformation ... (https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/13/us/china-online-disinformation-invs/)
7. Battling addiction or 'brainwashing' children? Youth caught ... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MlbdAMK9fQ)
8. On Detecting Cherry-picking in News Coverage Using Large Language Models (https://arxiv.org/html/2401.05650v1)
9. Battling addiction or 'brainwashing' children? Youth caught in China's ... (https://www.france24.com/en/video/20230901-battling-addiction-or-brainwashing-children-youth-caught-in-china-s-web-of-stringent-internet-restrictions)
10. Brainwashing still a global threat, new book on China says (https://www.rfa.org/english/news/china/china-brainwashing-01222024143822.html)