Two leading Chinese technology companies Alibaba and Baidu have recently removed Israel's official name from their digital maps, which are accessible online. This action comes in the wake of escalating concerns over the proliferation of antisemitism on the Chinese internet. The surge in antisemitic content is attributed to the conflict between Israel and the Islamist organization Hamas.

These companies have made the decision to alter their digital maps in response to the increasing prevalence of antisemitic sentiments and rhetoric circulating within Chinese online spaces. This shift underscores the impact of the conflict on international perceptions and actions in the tech sector.

The initial report on Baidu and Alibaba's omission of Israel's name was first brought to public attention by the Wall Street Journal. This revelation underscores a significant shift in how these prominent tech companies represent geographic information. Such modifications have the potential to impact users' understanding of global locations and signify the broader influence of digital platforms on geopolitical narratives and perceptions.

“Baidu’s Chinese language online maps demarcate the internationally recognised borders of Israel, as well as the Palestinian territories, plus key cities, but don’t clearly identify the country by name,” the report said.

On their digital maps, names of even relatively small nations such as Luxembourg remained intact, yet the name of Israel conspicuously went missing. The Chinese tech companies, Alibaba and Baidu, have refrained from providing any official explanation for this particular alteration, leaving users and observers to ponder the reasons behind this change.

It is essential to acknowledge that in recent weeks, a wave of antisemitic content has surged across the tightly regulated Chinese internet, overseen by the Chinese Communist Party. This surge in antisemitism raises concerns about the global impact of inflammatory content and its propagation on digital platforms.

One noteworthy instance that exemplifies the reach of these sentiments was a statement by a prominent Chinese nationalist commentator. This statement garnered significant attention on China's equivalent of Twitter, 'Weibo,' and cautioned the Western world against pushing others into challenging situations, highlighting the complexity of international perceptions in the digital age.

"In the past, Germany persecuted you. Now, you persecute Palestinians. In this world, do not force others to the corner because you would only be digging your own grave," wrote the commentator.

"Jews always talk about how badly they were treated during World War II and throughout history. But you can't ask why. Otherwise, you are called a racist or that you envy their money," said another commentator in a Weibo post that received over 2,000 likes.

Chinese media has also criticized the US for being "on the wrong side of history on Gaza." Chinese President Xi Jinping himself expressed his support for Palestine, stating, "It is not possible to continue the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinians," during the opening of the Riyadh-Gulf-Chinese Summit for Cooperation and Development in Saudi Arabia.

Conspiracy theories concerning Jewish influence have persisted on the Chinese internet for an extended period. These theories have implied that groups like Freemasonry have clandestinely exercised authority over the US government and global events.

An official Weibo account associated with China's state-owned CCTV made claims asserting substantial Jewish influence within the realms of US finance and politics. Israel was often cited as a decisive factor in American elections. It's noteworthy that this specific post has since been taken down, raising questions about the oversight and responsibility of digital platforms in controlling the spread of inflammatory or misleading content.

Image source: News First