Hasan Piker’s livestream was halted after Chinese security demanded access to his phone due to a Chairman Mao meme
Twitch streamer and political commentator Hasan Piker was confronted by Chinese security officers while live-streaming in Tiananmen Square, sparking widespread debate online.
The incident occurred after Piker, who has previously expressed support for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), displayed a meme featuring Chairman Mao on his phone during the broadcast.
According to a post on X, officials quickly approached Piker and his crew, interrupting the stream for nearly ten minutes.
BREAKING: Chinese security police harassed Hasan Piker while he was live streaming in Tiananmen Square.
Hasan’s live stream went down for 10 minutes after Chinese security officials saw Hasan hold up a Chairman Mao meme on his phone.
They immediately pulled his entire crew… pic.twitter.com/qjjXzEkZJy
— Drew Pavlou 🇦🇺🇺🇸🇺🇦🇹🇼 (@DrewPavlou) November 11, 2025
Viewers could hear a translator explaining, “They want to see your phones,” before security personnel reportedly demanded access to the devices. Piker and his team complied before being permitted to continue filming in the area.
Footage shared online shows the streamer appearing surprised by the intervention, which many netizens found ironic given his previous pro-CCP comments.
A separate clip shows Piker undergoing additional security checks at the site, where officers inspected his live-streaming equipment and questioned the presence of lighting gear due to safety regulations at the location.
Online reactions have been sharply divided. Some users criticised China’s stringent control over public media activities, while others mocked Piker for underestimating the country’s security restrictions.
