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Twitter sparks controversy over sponsored anti-protest ads for China government

Twitter is reportedly running ads from China’s state-backed media outlet Xinhua attacking the Hong Kong protesters.

The ads try to portray the protests as “escalating violence” and calls for “order to be restored.”

Other ads have highlighted alleged supporters of the Chinese “motherland” and have pointed out Hong Kong’s economic troubles from earlier in the year.

The protestors are opposed to both a (since-suspended) extradition bill and broader dissatisfaction with the government.

While China Xinhua News describes demonstrators as violent, international observers have criticised the Hong Kong police’s use of excessive force against peaceful protestors.

It is unknown how much China Xinhua News has spent on promoted tweets or where they are being targeted.

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