As the world mourned the death of beloved physicist Stephen Hawking, an article published by the BBC took the opportunity to highlight criticisms levied against China.
On Thursday, the state-owned Global Times took a jab at the British news outlet for its coverage.
The BBC report pivoted from a discussion of China’s love for Hawking to a look at concerns he had regarding artificial intelligence (AI), which the Global Times said were taken out of context.
“We should do all we can to ensure that [AI’s] future development benefits us and our environment,” the BBC author quoted Hawking as saying. “China is now one of the world’s leaders in investing, developing and using AI technology, such as using facial recognition to catch criminals – and to keep a close eye on the population.”
“Did Hawking worry about AI?,” Global Times asked. “Yes. But his anxiety mainly focused on the hypothesis that humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn’t compete and would be superseded by AI, period.”
The BBC article was posted with a video from last year about China’s Skynet Project, a camera surveillance project that can scan faces and compare them with its database of criminal suspects.
“Because of differences in political systems,” the Global Times editorial wrote, “it seems that nothing China does is right in the eyes of Western media.”
“Such a prejudice resulted from their double standard when it comes to China. It’s not that AI or facial recognition is evil, but when they are connected to China’s system, the West cannot possibly deem them trustworthy, despite their advantages.”
“Yet utilizing the death of a great master of science to throw mud at China’s system is jaw-dropping,” the commentary protested.
Ask any British citizen, do they want to live in a safe and secured country or one where bombs and crimes is prevalent in the name of individual freedom?
The mindless and endless association of human rights violation with China in practically every story in the western media is nothing short of propaganda and thought control. That which is asserted over and over again must be the truth. Meanwhile, these so-called defenders of human rights and freedom back the slaughter in Yemen by the enlightened Saudis, violently topple governments and plunge countries into chaos, partition nation states when it is convenient (Sudan), impose embargoes that cause deprivation and death, set up torture centres abroad (rendition) and continue to illegally enter countries and inflame wars (Syria). The 800 US military bases around the world is to spread democracy and make a better world? The hypocrisy is breathtaking.
That’s right: the West led by the anglosaxons will not miss anything to criticize China’s. It’s been bashing China for the last 30 years!
Western media now seems as propagandistic as any other, just more skilful at it so we don’t even realize we are being played. In fact, I don’t think even the journalists realize how biased they and their stories are, since "everyone" agrees about almost everything. Disgusting and very, very dangerous.
Even characterizing a story in a single Chinese publication as "China" criticising the BBC is propaganda. AT is sinking deeper and deeper into the muck. Why are we being drummed toward war? Did some agent of the military-industrial complex buy the site?
"Mankind’s greatest achievements have come about by talking, and its greatest failures by not talking. It doesn’t have to be like this".
If only people could rise above those who only see the negatives. Stephen Hawking has been such a wonderful inspiration to so many British citizens who are deeply ashamed of how intrusive and disrespectful the british media is and wish for better laws to control our media. I do feel disheartened when I read or hear ‘the West’ so commonly used negatively too. Please know that this disrespect does not reflect so many British citizens who wish for change and have a deep respect for China and Chinese culture. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could educate and inspire changes worldwide together with dialogue (not via media representations) rather than threaten and force with weapons and blood. 🙂