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Chinese Propaganda Media Caught Lying Trying To Promote China Using Stolen Footage Of Swiss Alps

Chinese Propaganda Media Caught Lying Trying To Promote China Using Stolen Footage Of Swiss Alps

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While theft is never cool, whether in real life or online, it is fun seeing justice being served when the thief is caught red-handed. This is THAT story.

Turns out, the Chinese news website China Daily recently took some visual content and posted it as their own, showing off a spectacular “Chinese” mountain range. Except it wasn’t Chinese, it was actually the Swiss alps, and the dog featured in the video was too famous to miss.

More Info: YouTube | Twitter

China has a fair bit of mountains to marvel at, but for some reason, it decided to claim the Swiss Alps

Image credits: Sylvia Michel

So, China Daily is a daily English-language newspaper owned by the Propaganda Department of the Chinese Government. And they have this hashtag going, #GlamorChina, which is effectively used to promote the country’s rich culture and scenery.

On May 10th, the news outlet tweeted out a video under said hashtag with the following caption: “#GlamorChina Wouldn’t you like to visit this peaceful getaway and enjoy play time with your dog in a small town nestled at the foot of the mountain?”

Turns out, China Daily decided to claim this photographer’s footage of the Swiss Alps, edited it and claimed it as a part of China

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Image credits: michelphotoCH

However, something was a bit off. Well, OK, very much off. You see, those weren’t really mountains in China. Those with a keen eye immediately understood that these are actually the Swiss Alps.

Yep, those with a keener eye immediately found out it was Brienz, Switzerland, a village on the northern shore of Lake Brienz, not too far from Bern. Either that, or they identified the dog in the video—Rasta the White Shepherd, who is Instagram famous.

It didn’t take long for people to smell the bull pies in the now deleted tweet

Image credits: CryptoBasel

But the newspaper decided to just take this footage, edit it a bit, flip it horizontally, and slap their own logo on it. Looked convincing until it didn’t. Nice try!

The footage actually belongs to Sylvia Michel, a photographer and travel influencer in Switzerland with whom Bored Panda got in touch for an interview. News of the IP theft quickly reached Sylvia with help of friendly Twitter people and she immediately responded to China Daily’s tweet, saying that this is a stolen video and that they should delete the tweet.

The footage was actually of Brienz, Switzerland, and was captured by Sylvia Michel, photographer and travel influencer

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Image credits: CryptoBasel

Of course there were jokes about it…

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Image credits: NonghuaNews

It wasn’t long until the video in the tweet was flagged for copyright infringement, subsequently getting pulled down from the tweet, and even sooner the tweet was deleted by China Daily altogether. But not before people took a screencap of it.

In response to this, one of Sylvia’s videos, which was actually up for two months before being repurposed as a piece of Chinese propaganda, was appropriately renamed to The true meaning of luxury 4K (Brienz in Switzerland… not China).

China Daily hasn’t responded to Sylvia in any way. “I think that would be expecting a bit too much. I reported the two posts on Twitter and Facebook—as I always do when someone steals my work,” elaborated Sylvia.

She also responded to the heaps of support she got from the internet following this incident, thanking everyone, urging people to respect artists, and explaining how this is not cool as she went through a lot of work to make it a reality, only for someone to piggyback off of it.

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Besides demanding to delete the tweet, Sylvia also renamed one of the videos that were stolen with the caption “Brienz in Switzerland… not China”

Image credits: Sylvia Michel

Image credits: Sylvia Michel

You can check out the original video below

Image credits: Sylvia Michel

Sad to say, this happens often to Sylvia (and many others online), as she explained:

“Unfortunately, I have over 200 videos stolen and posted every day. Whether they have watermarks on them or not. The videos are edited, mirrored, shortened, different music is put underneath and even different watermarks are put over mine. People don’t care about copyright or the fact that someone had a lot of work done to it.”

The tweet was eventually flagged for copyright infringement and the tweet was deleted

Image credits: EP_Lawrence

Copyright infringement is a serious issue. Many artists face this when putting their content out there. And though it isn’t easy to control it online, there are some things you can still do to make it hard for thieves to steal it. Sylvia gives us some tips on the matter:

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“I would definitely put watermarks on the photos and videos—that already keeps some from stealing. Then, a lot of my videos on Facebook and Instagram are now monitored with a tool. If you steal multiple times, sooner or later your Facebook or Instagram account will be deleted.”

She continued: “I fight for the intellectual property to be respected. There is simply a lot of work behind it that you should not take just because it is on the Internet. Copyright law also applies to social channels.”

Here’s how the internet reacted to this bit of news

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To show your support for Sylvia, you can check out any of her social media and videos on her Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. But if you wanna see more floof, consider peeping some of Rasta the White Shepherd’s content.

But before you go, let us know your thoughts on this in the comment section below!

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davenyc88 avatar
Dave P
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What do you expect from a brutal dictatorship that relies on propoganda to lie about genocide against uygurs, persecution against Tibetans and Mongols, shutting down freedom in Hong Kong, and trying to invade Taiwan? You really expected better from the CCP, lets focus less on their state run media using a swiss stolen video, and focus on their real crimes against humanity.

jonathanhsieh avatar
JDH
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least you admit the people are being oppressed and censored terribly. But it's more of a "very, very, VERY, WAY TOO overprotective parent" vs a child abuser. And yes, stolen footage is nothing compared to what we have to fix as a collective society.

Load More Replies...
paulaguilera avatar
Paul Aguilera
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

China is a beautiful place on it's own, they just be too lazy to go get their own majestic photos to promote. They don't need to steal

shrutiprabhu14 avatar
SP
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not surprising, considering that while the world is reeling from the pandemic that originated in China, when most nations are helping each other out...China took advantage of the situation to try and invade its neighbors.

2580645429 avatar
Bored water
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Frankly speaking,there's no precise evidence that the pandemic originated in China.And China is a peace-loving country and will never ever invade its neighbors

Load More Replies...
mshaurimazuri avatar
Mshauri Mazuri
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate China, for the sole reason of what they are doing to dogs during yulin festival. And because of that, it seems like everything they do, i hate.

rl_2 avatar
R L
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They wouldn't have used a dog in their ad because it would have been on a dinner plate. I am generalising- there a wonderful animal rescue groups in China that are trying to squash this barbaric practice, but the reality is that too many people are apathetic.

Load More Replies...
baconycakes1337 avatar
Bacony Cakes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, they just built a 1:1 scale replica of Switzerland to hide the massive steel mill complex releasing DDT into the ocean to destroy Taiwan... somehow.

reptilegirl30 avatar
Tacos Are Tasty
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What? The Chinese government is lying about something? I am shooketh, lol! Their government is as incapable of telling the truth as it is in caring for human or animal rights.

jonathanhsieh avatar
JDH
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just FYI: Most chinese people aren't like this. People are roasting them so hard in the comments, and while the actions of this "news network" are rather (incredibly) stupid, it doesn't represent all of China. Remember, Chinese people think of Americans as "idiots" because it's partially true, not because they hate us. They use logic, not bias.

dragonlord avatar
Dragon Lord
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ouch... I mean what they did was wrong, but now everyone is slandering China as a whole. My mother was Chinese. Half the blood that runs in my veins is from China. Not everyone from China is horrible. Try looking at the nicer side of China for once.

susannaental_1 avatar
Dynein
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the comments are largely applying to China the country with a political agenda, not the people living there. I admit that this doesn't apply to all of the comments, but even so... for your own emotional comfort you should remind yourself that China as a political entity gives people plenty of very legitimate reason for dislike, which in turn gives rise to negative comments. The propaganda, extreme surveillance and cruelty toward political opponents and minorities rightfully pisses people off. I hate China the political entity, but I wish the PEOPLE of China all the best, and hope that someday, they will have more political freedom.

Load More Replies...
adamhendron avatar
Adam Hendron
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm shocked that BP would side with Trump in bashing China. Get back to criticizing America.

nehajawale-bhorge avatar
panda_legerdemain
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such things have been done in my country (India) too during elections to get votes

nfrlprdpr avatar
Mazer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When the massive amount of air pollution your nation produces obscures all its beauty, the need for a pollution free photo is going to be needed, sad

susan-herbert345 avatar
SoozeeQ
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Technically, (apart from the hasthag), this didn't even mention China. It's not as though they said "this is ". They were asking, wouldn't you like to get away? I get why the photographer was ticked off, but I think it could have been funnier if somebody had responded literally, such as ...

susan-herbert345 avatar
SoozeeQ
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the Swiss Tourism Department, or a travel agency should have responded to their question and said "Yes, this is Brienz, Switzerland, when travel restrictions are over, please come and visit our peaceful getaway". IMO.

Load More Replies...
mjw0sysascend_com avatar
lara
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You know how you can tell a Chinese official is lying? They're talking.

davenyc88 avatar
Dave P
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What do you expect from a brutal dictatorship that relies on propoganda to lie about genocide against uygurs, persecution against Tibetans and Mongols, shutting down freedom in Hong Kong, and trying to invade Taiwan? You really expected better from the CCP, lets focus less on their state run media using a swiss stolen video, and focus on their real crimes against humanity.

jonathanhsieh avatar
JDH
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least you admit the people are being oppressed and censored terribly. But it's more of a "very, very, VERY, WAY TOO overprotective parent" vs a child abuser. And yes, stolen footage is nothing compared to what we have to fix as a collective society.

Load More Replies...
paulaguilera avatar
Paul Aguilera
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

China is a beautiful place on it's own, they just be too lazy to go get their own majestic photos to promote. They don't need to steal

shrutiprabhu14 avatar
SP
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not surprising, considering that while the world is reeling from the pandemic that originated in China, when most nations are helping each other out...China took advantage of the situation to try and invade its neighbors.

2580645429 avatar
Bored water
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Frankly speaking,there's no precise evidence that the pandemic originated in China.And China is a peace-loving country and will never ever invade its neighbors

Load More Replies...
mshaurimazuri avatar
Mshauri Mazuri
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate China, for the sole reason of what they are doing to dogs during yulin festival. And because of that, it seems like everything they do, i hate.

rl_2 avatar
R L
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They wouldn't have used a dog in their ad because it would have been on a dinner plate. I am generalising- there a wonderful animal rescue groups in China that are trying to squash this barbaric practice, but the reality is that too many people are apathetic.

Load More Replies...
baconycakes1337 avatar
Bacony Cakes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, they just built a 1:1 scale replica of Switzerland to hide the massive steel mill complex releasing DDT into the ocean to destroy Taiwan... somehow.

reptilegirl30 avatar
Tacos Are Tasty
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What? The Chinese government is lying about something? I am shooketh, lol! Their government is as incapable of telling the truth as it is in caring for human or animal rights.

jonathanhsieh avatar
JDH
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just FYI: Most chinese people aren't like this. People are roasting them so hard in the comments, and while the actions of this "news network" are rather (incredibly) stupid, it doesn't represent all of China. Remember, Chinese people think of Americans as "idiots" because it's partially true, not because they hate us. They use logic, not bias.

dragonlord avatar
Dragon Lord
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ouch... I mean what they did was wrong, but now everyone is slandering China as a whole. My mother was Chinese. Half the blood that runs in my veins is from China. Not everyone from China is horrible. Try looking at the nicer side of China for once.

susannaental_1 avatar
Dynein
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the comments are largely applying to China the country with a political agenda, not the people living there. I admit that this doesn't apply to all of the comments, but even so... for your own emotional comfort you should remind yourself that China as a political entity gives people plenty of very legitimate reason for dislike, which in turn gives rise to negative comments. The propaganda, extreme surveillance and cruelty toward political opponents and minorities rightfully pisses people off. I hate China the political entity, but I wish the PEOPLE of China all the best, and hope that someday, they will have more political freedom.

Load More Replies...
adamhendron avatar
Adam Hendron
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm shocked that BP would side with Trump in bashing China. Get back to criticizing America.

nehajawale-bhorge avatar
panda_legerdemain
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Such things have been done in my country (India) too during elections to get votes

nfrlprdpr avatar
Mazer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When the massive amount of air pollution your nation produces obscures all its beauty, the need for a pollution free photo is going to be needed, sad

susan-herbert345 avatar
SoozeeQ
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Technically, (apart from the hasthag), this didn't even mention China. It's not as though they said "this is ". They were asking, wouldn't you like to get away? I get why the photographer was ticked off, but I think it could have been funnier if somebody had responded literally, such as ...

susan-herbert345 avatar
SoozeeQ
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the Swiss Tourism Department, or a travel agency should have responded to their question and said "Yes, this is Brienz, Switzerland, when travel restrictions are over, please come and visit our peaceful getaway". IMO.

Load More Replies...
mjw0sysascend_com avatar
lara
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You know how you can tell a Chinese official is lying? They're talking.

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