Twitter founder Jack Dorsey calls for end to China’s Communist Party over zero-Covid policies

Gareth Corfield
·2 min read
China is accused of using its health tracking app to prevent protesters in Henan from mobilising - AP Photo
China is accused of using its health tracking app to prevent protesters in Henan from mobilising - AP Photo
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Twitter founder Jack Dorsey has called for an “end” to China’s ruling Communist Party in response to the country’s strict, app-enforced zero-Covid policies.

Mr Dorsey tweeted “End the CCP” in response to a video from a CNN correspondent based in Beijing bemoaning China’s mandatory health tracking app, which was introduced to slow the spread of Covid-19.

Selina Wang shared her video news report on Twitter, in which she talks about Beijing’s “relentless Covid testing & health app that dictates where I go”. She expressed fears that “this surveillance will stay long after Covid is gone”.

China’s mandatory health-tracking app shows users a “green code” if they’re allowed to travel and a “red code” if they are required to immediately self-isolate or enter quarantine.

CNN has reported that Chinese authorities appear to be using the health app as a means of controlling dissenters and protesters.

In June, locals in Henan province who were organising a protest at a bank after having their deposits frozen found their health codes had unexpectedly turned from green to red, CNN reported.

The Global Times, a Chinese state propaganda outlet, said in an article in June: “The health code is a technical means designed to make the public compromise some personal information rights to comply with the needs of society's public health security. It can only be used for epidemic prevention purposes.”

China’s zero-Covid policy has led to repeated and continued localised lockdowns, which have hobbled the economy. Growth slowed sharply in the second quarter of this year, with China recording its second worst three-month period since records began in 1992.

In his previous post as boss of Twitter, Mr Dorsey defended the company’s decision to keep propaganda messages from China on the site despite pressure to delete them.

Mr Dorsey stepped down from leading Twitter in November last year as he focused on running payments company Block, which was previously known as Square.