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[Beijing / Hong Kong 7th Reuters]- In mainland China, the number of new users of the US-based voice membership exchange site (SNS) “Clubhouse” application is increasing one after another. Users have conversations about human rights, public awareness and other sensitive topics, but so far the Chinese authorities have not censored or removed the app.
Reuters directly overheard some Chinese conversations taking place at the clubhouse. The topic covers a wide range of topics, including detention centers in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the independence of Taiwan, and the Hong Kong National Security Law, with thousands of users listening in on conversations.
For example, the “Room” conversation group, which brings together Hong Kong politicians, activists, journalists and artists, was discussing former US President Donald Trump and his base of support in Hong Kong.
Also, starting on the 6th, in another popular Chinese room, “internet people” from mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong will have an open conversation about the growing political tensions in the region.
On the same day, the content of the conversation attracted much attention on the Chinese version of Twitter “Weibo.” The post, “I don’t know how long this environment will last, but I’ll never forget this moment in the history of the Internet,” received more than 65,000 likes.
The clubhouse is a system that cannot be used unless invited by existing members. As of the 7th, the invitation slots were sold for 50-400 yuan ($ 7.73-69.59) on various popular e-commerce sites in China.
The clubhouse will begin in the United States in early 2020. A surprise conversation between the CEO of the American electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, Tesla, Musk, and the CEO of US Emerging Net Securities, Robin Hood, Tenev, in the platform this month also caused a further increase in users.
However, it can only be used on terminals using Apple’s iOS mobile operating system, and is not available in China on the application sales site “App Store” developed by Apple. These two are major obstacles to widespread use in the country.
However, mainland Chinese users can access the clubhouse app by changing the location of the app store they use.
Many Western social media applications such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube have been banned in China, and domestic Internet services have been severely censored. It is not clear why clubhouses are not currently banned in China.
Some overseas social networks with a small number of Chinese users, such as “8kun”, which is the base of the “QAnon” group that promotes the conspiracy theory, continue to operate under censorship.
