Cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/11137234
Each one-hour episode of the recently started “documentary” called Continued Efforts, Deepening Progress (持续发力 纵深推进) contained a myriad of people appearing on camera to “repent their sins”, including some 29 people who are currently in custody. Many of these individuals have yet to be tried, thus fully qualifying their appearances as “forced televised confessions” and rendering their chances of receiving a fair trial by an independent court non-existent.
The seeming purpose of the “documentary” was to broaden and ensure public support for the current “anti-corruption” campaign(s) in different fields, including finance, sports, real estate, and agriculture.
The broadcast mirrors a similar one aired almost exactly one year ago. In January 2023, CCTV-1 ran a four-part “documentary”, 永远吹冲锋号 (Always Charging Forward), in which 26 people confessed to their crimes on TV. Most of them had also not yet been brought to trial.
Chilling. Worst part is that this kind of thing gives a glimpse into humanities future. Technology is rapidly approaching a point where it will grow the power of fascism beyond the human ability to counter it.