Twitter keeps fake China image despite PM Scott Morrison demanding removal

As the PM’s pleas to Twitter to remove a fake image depicting an Australian soldier have been ignored, China is continuing its rant against Australia.

Government officials have joined Prime Minister Scott Morrison in criticising Twitter for allowing a “disgusting” fake image to remain online, posted by China, as the country continues to ramp up the rhetoric against Australia.

The fake picture, posted on a Chinese government-linked Twitter account, depicts an Australian soldier holding a knife to the throat of a child.

Overnight, despite pleas from both Mr Morrison and government officials, the image remained available.

Government frontbencher Michael Sukkar was among those questioning why the social media platform allowed the doctored image to remain online, describing it as “disgusting” to the ABC.

But China is refusing to apologise for the controversial image. It also said Australia needed to do some “soul searching” following the release of an explosive war crimes report.

The bombshell report recommended 19 Australian soldiers be investigated for the alleged murder of 39 Afghans.

Despite a plea from Mr Morrison, who labelled the tweet “repugnant”, Twitter has not removed the post, although the page is flagged as a “China government account”.

Asked about the tweet at a regular press briefing overnight, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying replied: “With Australian soldiers committing such atrocious crimes, shouldn’t the Australian Government feel ashamed?”

She said Australia should “make a formal apology to the Afghan people”.

“It is a fact that Australian soldiers brutally slaughtered innocent civilians in Afghanistan,” she said.

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The Prime Minister Scott Morrison during Question Time via a screen in Parliament House Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage

On Monday, when the PM was asked what he had demanded of Twitter, he said: “We are seeking its removal immediately and have also contacted Twitter to take it down immediately.

“It is a false image and a terrible slur on our great defence forces and the men and women who have served in that uniform for over 100 years.

“It is an absolute outrageous and disgusting slur and it wouldn’t be the first time that social media have censored posts.

“In this case, I would think that in the interests of decency, they should take it down.”

On its website, Twitter says: “People are allowed to post content, including potentially inflammatory content, as long as they’re not violating the Twitter Rules.”

“It’s important to know that Twitter does not screen content or remove potentially offensive content,” it says.

“As a policy, we do not mediate content or intervene in disputes between users. However, targeted abuse or harassment may constitute a violation of the Twitter Rules and Terms of Service.”

Morrison says that tweet by the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman with the "falsified image" is truly repugnant and deeply offensive to every Australian

— Katina Curtis (@katinacurtis) November 30, 2020

It is a popular cartoon that condemns the Australian Special Forces ’s brutal murder of 39 Afghan civilians. On what ground does Morrison feel angry over the use of this cartoon by the spokesperson of Chinese FM? It’s ridiculous and shameless that he demanded China to apologize. pic.twitter.com/QkBSXyf1uY

— Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) November 30, 2020

Under Twitter’s Rules policy, it claims to “prohibit the glorification of violence” and that you “may not promote violence against, threaten, or harass other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, caste, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or serious disease”.

“You may not post media that is excessively gory,” it continues.

In terms of “Authenticity”, Twitter says: “You may not deceptively share synthetic or manipulated media that are likely to cause harm. In addition, we may label tweets containing synthetic and manipulated media to help people understand their authenticity and to provide additional context.”

The tweet from Beijing’s foreign ministry spokesman Lijan Zhao flagged as a China Government Account.

He posted this fake image of an Australian soldier holding a knife at the throat of a child and said China condemned the murder of Afghan civilians

On Monday, Minister for Housing and Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar said the image was outrageous and unacceptable and urged Twitter to do more.

“I’m completely offended,” Mr Sukkar said.

“To see that doctored image, clearly an incendiary image that’s been doctored in that way, is something that I am utterly offended about.

“We are a proud country. Sure, there are issues that Australia is owning up to … but we absolutely are appalled by this tweet.

“I’d like to see the image removed immediately given that it depicts our defence forces in a disgusting way, but in the end these will be matters for Twitter,” he said.

“Twitter has shown in recent times a certain willingness to censor, I suspect images and messages that are far less disgusting than the one we are referring to here.

“So I’m surprised that they have chosen not to do that. I would just echo the Prime Minister’s request and that is for Twitter to remove it immediately,” Mr Sukkar said.

“I would have thought very clearly from 25 million Australians that a concocted image of a person in Australian uniform holding a bloody knife to the neck of what seems to be depicted as a small Afghani child is outrageous.

“If that’s not something that should be removed, I’m not sure what is.”

Australia is "urban-rural fringe" of Western civilization where gangsters roamed. If the US wants to do something bad, it seeks thugs in such a place. Australian army's killing of Afghan civilians and @ScottMorrisonMP's attitude prove Canberra's barbarism.

— Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) November 30, 2020

Going to be interesting to see how Chinese state media (and the Australian WeChat platforms here that obey Beijing's censorship norms) report Morrison's condemnation of Zhao's tweet. Would involve acknowledging Zhao tweeted a photoshopped image.

— Bill Birtles (@billbirtles) November 30, 2020

Earlier, in Beijing, Chinese officials delivered a stinging response to demands for an apology from the PM, accusing Australia of “barbarism” and saying the Government should feel ashamed.

“Some Australian soldiers committed serious crimes in Afghanistan,” Ms Hua said.

“The details are appalling and shocking including men and boys who were shot dead all with their throats slit while blindfolded.”