Saturday, October 19th 2019
U.S. Legislators Including AOC Come Down Hard on Activision-Blizzard on Blitzchung Ban
Three Congresspersons and two Senators, in a letter to Activision-Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick, came down hard on the company's decision to ban and withdraw prize winnings of Hong Kong gamer Ng Wai Chung aka "Blitzchung." In the letter, the legislators unleashed scathing criticism of the company's decision to place its market-access to China above its expectations as an American business to spread the core American values of freedom and liberty around the world. Among these legislators are Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Congressmen Mike Gallagher and Tom Malinowski; and Senators Marco Rubio and Ron Wyden.
"Your company benefits from China's growing market for e-sports, along with an investment from Tencent, one of China's largest technology firms. As you and your company are no doubt aware, the Chinese government uses the size and strength of its economy to suppress opinion with which it disagrees. Last week alone, the Chinese government targeted Apple for hosting an app to help peaceful demonstrators evade repression and the NBA because one team's general manager tweeted in support of Hong Kong protests," the letter reads.
"Your company claims to stand by 'one's right to express individual thoughts and opinions,' yet many of your own employees believe that Activision-Blizzard's decision to punish Mr. Chung runs counter to those values," the letter continues, referencing the silent protest by Blizzard employees by covering up a floor decal in the company's Stateside office. "Indeed many gamers around the world have taken notice of your company's actions, understandably calling for boycotts of Activision-Blizzard gaming sites," the letter continues, referring to the recent wave of established gamers either downright deleting their accounts, or cancelling their subscriptions to Activision-Blizzard MMOs.
Buckling under intense pressure in its home market, Blizzard last week reduced its ban. Bliizzard announced that it would be returning Blitzchung his prize money and reducing his ban from 1 year to 6 months. "Anger is still bubbling in the Blizzard communities, and with BlizzCon just around the corner, things are only going to continue to heat up," comments E-Sports Talk.
"As China amplifies its campaign of intimidation, you and your company must decide whether to look beyond the bottom line and promote American values - like freedom of speech and thought - or to give in to Beijing's demands in order to preserve market access. We urge you in the strongest terms to reconsider your decision with respect to Mr. Chung. You have the opportunity to reverse course. We urge you to take it," the letter concludes.
Sources:
United States Senate, E-Sports Talk
"Your company benefits from China's growing market for e-sports, along with an investment from Tencent, one of China's largest technology firms. As you and your company are no doubt aware, the Chinese government uses the size and strength of its economy to suppress opinion with which it disagrees. Last week alone, the Chinese government targeted Apple for hosting an app to help peaceful demonstrators evade repression and the NBA because one team's general manager tweeted in support of Hong Kong protests," the letter reads.
Buckling under intense pressure in its home market, Blizzard last week reduced its ban. Bliizzard announced that it would be returning Blitzchung his prize money and reducing his ban from 1 year to 6 months. "Anger is still bubbling in the Blizzard communities, and with BlizzCon just around the corner, things are only going to continue to heat up," comments E-Sports Talk.
"As China amplifies its campaign of intimidation, you and your company must decide whether to look beyond the bottom line and promote American values - like freedom of speech and thought - or to give in to Beijing's demands in order to preserve market access. We urge you in the strongest terms to reconsider your decision with respect to Mr. Chung. You have the opportunity to reverse course. We urge you to take it," the letter concludes.
62 Comments on U.S. Legislators Including AOC Come Down Hard on Activision-Blizzard on Blitzchung Ban
It’s for the voters at home who are dumb as rocks, because they willl think “wow, so and so is doing something good!” All of the Representatives and Senators do it, both parties. So we can yawn this statemnt off as the nothing that it is and move on.
US companies bending the knee to the Chinese; selling out principles of free speech and democracy for the sake of greedy profits.
Actually, it seems like the congressmembers are being consistent. Foreign censoring and propaganda is not okay for American companies to be part of. That makes a lot more sense than the yarn you were weaving.
i understand both involved parts and in this case blizz should only banned Blitzchung ; he appeared on official stream not a private one knowing he'll be in trouble..that's the risk of free speech unfortunately..