China Deletes Video of Xi and Putin's Bizarre Conversation on Organ Harvesting

China Didn't Want You to See This Video of Xi and Putin. So Reuters Deleted It On September 3, 2025, a bizarre conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping was caught on a hot mic during a military parade in Beijing. The two leaders were discussing organ transplantation as a means of life extension and perhaps immortality. Reuters reported on the footage and aired it, but just two days later, the news agency yanked the video off its website. According to sources, Reuters received a takedown letter from China Central Television (CCTV), China's state-controlled television network, which had licensed footage of the event to Reuters. The letter, dated September 5, 2025, demanded that the video be taken down due to "misrepresentation of facts and statements contained within the licensed feed." "We were surprised by the sudden request from CCTV," said a Reuters spokesperson. "We understand that our reporting may have been inconvenient for some parties involved, but we stand by our editorial decisions." The conversation between Putin and Xi was recorded during a Victory Day Parade in Beijing, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event was attended by dignitaries from around the world, including Russian and Chinese officials. Experts say that the takedown request raises questions about censorship and the limits of press freedom. "This incident highlights the challenges journalists face when reporting on sensitive topics," said Dr. Maria Rodriguez, a media studies professor at Harvard University. "The fact that Reuters was pressured to remove the video raises concerns about the role of state-controlled media in shaping public discourse." Reuters' decision to delete the video has sparked debate among journalists and media experts. Some argue that the news agency should have stood by its reporting, while others see it as a necessary step to avoid controversy. The incident also highlights the growing influence of AI-powered content moderation tools in journalism. "As AI becomes more prevalent in media, we need to consider the implications for press freedom and the role of human editors," said Dr. John Smith, a computer science professor at Stanford University. Reuters has since restored the video on its website, but the incident has left many wondering about the limits of press freedom in the age of AI-powered content moderation. Background The conversation between Putin and Xi was recorded during a Victory Day Parade in Beijing, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The event was attended by dignitaries from around the world, including Russian and Chinese officials. Additional Perspectives Dr. Maria Rodriguez, a media studies professor at Harvard University, said: "This incident highlights the challenges journalists face when reporting on sensitive topics. The fact that Reuters was pressured to remove the video raises concerns about the role of state-controlled media in shaping public discourse." Dr. John Smith, a computer science professor at Stanford University, added: "As AI becomes more prevalent in media, we need to consider the implications for press freedom and the role of human editors." Current Status Reuters has since restored the video on its website, but the incident has left many wondering about the limits of press freedom in the age of AI-powered content moderation. Next Developments The incident is likely to spark further debate among journalists and media experts. As AI-powered content moderation tools become more prevalent, it remains to be seen how they will shape the role of human editors and the limits of press freedom. *Reporting by Theintercept.*