In the wake of the Chinese government’s brutal crackdown on political dissidents in Hong Kong this year, more and more American companies are coming under fire for their silence regarding China’s human rights abuses.
With its vast population, China has become an extremely desirable market for some of the largest corporations in the United States in recent years, and companies like Nike and Blizzard Entertainment have made enormous efforts to stay on good terms with government officials in the country.
But in exchange for access to Chinese market distribution, American tech and entertainment companies are often expected to toe the line with regard to China’s strict censorship policies. To cater to Chinese markets, for example, Hollywood films must now portray China’s government in a positive light; any mention of government scandals is likely to be met with swift retribution from Communist Party higher-ups.
For critics of American companies caught pandering to foreign business interests, such compromises already amount to censorship at the hands of a foreign power. After Blizzard took action this week against a popular gamer who expressed solidarity with protestors in Hong Kong, employees went so far as to stage a walkout from company premises. Protests such as these are likely to shed more light on the uneasy relationship that often exists between American corporations and Chinese government officials.
The conflict already appears to be reaching a breaking point within certain circles of the US media. Last week, the Comedy Central series “South Park” was banned in China and scrubbed from the country’s Internet due to the show’s implied criticism of Chinese trade deals.
During a controversial episode that aired last Wednesday, “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone publicly skewered American efforts to mollify Chinese censors; only a few days after the episode aired, NBA executives came under fire for forcing a player to walk back his comments regarding Hong Kong’s protestors.
Similarly, Blizzard’s decision to censor one of its most ardent supporters came as a shock to long-term fans of the company’s products. The “World of Warcraft” series of video games earned the company a fortune, and Blizzard’s share of the Chinese video game market has undoubtedly made the company vast sums of money. If their recent efforts to silence dissent within their own ranks is any indication of the company’s mindset, board members at Blizzard do not want to make waves with Communist Party officials under any circumstances.
How this international drama is likely to play out over the next year is anyone’s guess, but it is clear that American companies may soon have to decide where their loyalties stand in the marketplace. Truly, the worlds of tech and entertainment may never be the same.
Dil Bole Oberoi
