YouTube deletes another satirical channel that targeted Xi Jinping – Radio Free Asia

YouTube has once more deleted a channel that produced satirical spoof videos featuring ruling Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, sparking further concerns over whether the Chinese government is exploiting the social media giant’s copyright rules. The @Voice_of_Chonglang channel, which frequently used the #InsultTheBun hashtag referencing Xi’s fondness for steamed baozi buns, was deleted from the global video-sharing platform on Oct. 5. “The consequences of cyberbullying against Xi Jinping,” the channel’s X account commented ironically on the move, which comes after YouTube deleted a similar channel titled @RutersXiaoFanQi in February. The woman behind @Voice_of_Chonglang said she had received no warning of the ban, just an email informing her that the channel had seriously or repeatedly violated its cyberbullying policy. YouTube bans content that “targets someone with prolonged insults or slurs based on their physical traits or protected group status, like age, disability, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or race,” according to its help page. However, the rules make an exception for “debates related to high-profile officials or leaders” and insults made as part of “scripted satire” and “diss tracks.” The channel producer said she had complained to YouTube by email, but that her email was bounced back after five minutes. She
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