Dharamshala — The Chinese government has intensified its Sinicisation policy in Tibet through the so-called “Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress." This campaign increasingly targets the Tibetan language by removing it from public signage and forcing Tibetans to speak Mandarin. These restrictions have heavily impacted live streaming, a vital source of income for many Tibetans. Recently, authorities abruptly shut down the live stream of a Tibetan woman simply for singing a Tibetan song.
Chinese social media platforms frequently disrupt or shut down live streams when creators speak in Tibetan. Tibetan content creators and e-commerce entrepreneurs on major Chinese applications like Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok) and Kuaishou have widely documented instances where their live broadcasts were abruptly cut off, muted, or flagged with automated warnings simply for using their mother tongue (Tibetan).
On September 16, 2026, a young Tibetan woman shared her experience of having her livestream abruptly interrupted and shut down. The termination occurred immediately after she sang a Tibetan song, which she had performed in an effort to liven up the broadcast. (Editor's Note: To ensure her safety and protect her from potential retaliation, her name and identifying details have been withheld.)
Expressing her frustration and disbelief, she said: "I am completely speechless. Just now, when I was live streaming... I sang a Tibetan song to liven up the stream. Shortly after I started singing, they directly kicked me out and shut down the live stream." She added: "I am so angry... Why do they do this? Why are the Tibetan, Mongolian, and Uyghur languages written into the constitution? Did we violate some heavenly law? Why did they shut down the live stream?"
She went on to explain the systemic financial and cultural pressures facing Tibetan creators, stating: "What I hear is that if you use the Tibetan language in a live stream, you have to pay the authorities." She added, "They want to silence us and force everyone to speak Chinese. I am speechless—the same thing happened a few days ago. You do not allow us to speak Tibetan, and now you do not allow us to sing a Tibetan song. Are you really that afraid?"
Chinese government has intensified its Sinicisation policy in Tibet by closing Tibetan schools and monasteries and forcing Tibetan children and young monks into state-run Chinese colonial boarding schools. In recent months, the Chinese authorities have also cracked down on Tibetans who promote the Tibetan language through detentions, arrests, harassment, humiliation and imprisonment.
Live streaming has become a vital source of income for many young Tibetans facing severe unemployment. Job opportunities are limited and local Tibetans face systemic discrimination, often being excluded from positions in corporate offices and government departments. With limited options, many have turned to live streaming to earn a living by selling goods or hosting public debates. However, according to a reliable source, the Chinese government plans to completely ban these live streams by 2028. This upcoming restriction is driven by the rapid growth of the online economy and Beijing's growing fear that sensitive state secrets could be leaked to the outside world.
The Chinese communist government’s aggressive suppression of live streaming represents a critical escalation in its Sinicization campaign, systematically dismantling the digital freedom of expression and economic independence of young Tibetans. Under the pretext of enforcing “national security” and so-called the "Law on Ethnic Unity and Progress," state authorities have weaponised automated algorithms to instantly flag, fine, or shut down broadcasts featuring the Tibetan language—even for harmless cultural expressions like singing traditional songs.
