Editing Forced confession (section)

===China===
{{further|Struggle session|China Global Television Network#Broadcasting of forced confessions}}
The [[People's Republic of China]] systematically employed forced televised confession against [[list of Chinese dissidents|Chinese dissidents]] and workers of various [[human rights group|human rights groups]] in an attempt to discredit, smear and suppress dissident voices and activism.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> These scripted confessions, obtained with the person under [[duress]] and via [[torture]], are broadcast on the [[China Central Television|state television]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-07-06|title=Chinese TV channel breached rules with 'forced confession'|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-53308057|access-date=2021-11-19}}</ref> Notable victims includes [[Wang Yu (lawyer)|Wang Yu]], a female [[human rights]] [[lawyer]], and [[Sweden|Swedish]] citizen Peter Dahlin, an [[NGO]] worker and [[human rights activist]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|last=Wong|first=Edward|date=2016-01-21|title=China Uses Foreigners' Televised Confessions to Serve Its Own Ends|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/22/world/asia/china-confession-cctv.html|access-date=2020-06-19|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theinitium.com/article/20180709-opinion-luosiling-peter-dahlin-forced-confession/|title=瑞典人彼得·達林：我在中國上電視認罪，《1984》噩夢成為現實|website=theinitium.com|date=9 July 2018 |language=zh-Hant|access-date=2018-10-01}}</ref> The owners of [[Causeway Bay Books]]{{Snd}}[[Gui Minhai]] and [[Lam Wing-kee]]{{Snd}}who were [[Causeway Bay Books disappearances|abducted]] by state security agents operating outside of Mainland China, also made such controversial confessions. Upon regaining his freedom, Lam detailed his abduction and detention, and recanted his confessions in Hong Kong to the media.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Myers|first=Steven Lee|date=2018-04-11|title=How China Uses Forced Confessions as Propaganda Tool|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/11/world/asia/china-forced-confessions-propaganda.html|access-date=2020-06-19|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

These televised confessions and acts of contrition have been denounced as frauds by critics. Media organisations in China and in Hong Kong, including the ''[[South China Morning Post]]'', which is owned by [[Alibaba Group|Alibaba]], have been criticised for abetting the practice by circulating the "confessions" and in some cases even participating in them. [[Safeguard Defenders]] released a report in April 2018 in which 45 high-profile examples of the so-called confessions were broadcast between July 2013 and February 2018.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2018-04-08|title=New report offers backstage pass to China's forced TV confessions|url=https://safeguarddefenders.com/en/blog/new-report-offers-backstage-pass-china-s-forced-tv-confessions|access-date=2021-11-19|website=Safeguard Defenders|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-10|title=Chinese TV forced confessions campaign timeline|url=https://safeguarddefenders.com/en/blog/resource-chinese-tv-forced-confessions-campaign-timeline|access-date=2021-11-19|website=Safeguard Defenders|language=en}}</ref> More than half of the subjects were journalists, lawyers, and other individuals involved in promoting [[human rights in China]].<ref name=":2" /> The confessions were mostly imposed on the subjects outside of the formal legal framework, in the absence of a trial, and without regard for the presumption of innocence under the Chinese law.<ref name=":0" /> Many of those forced to record confessions later explained in detail how the videos were carefully scripted and made under the watchful eyes of the agents of the security apparatus, demonstrating their powerlessness once they are within the opaque Chinese legal system.<ref name=":0" />