Today is Qingming: A day to memorialise the voices lost to 404

Last year, several Foodthink articles “disappeared” from our WeChat official account—the highest number in our history. Yet, these articles linger like ghosts, scattered across the corners of the internet. Occasionally, readers ask where they can still be found. Inspired by this, Foodthink wishes to use the occasion of the Qingming Festival to create a graveyard for these “disappeared” articles, providing a place where their souls may finally return and rest.

Not every disappearance was a tragic sacrifice. The reasons vary; some were published with the knowledge that they had a limited lifespan—every extra minute they survived, and every additional person who read them, extended their mission. Others never expected to vanish, only to find themselves purged and realise that… this was it. They had touched the interests of certain companies, groups, or even larger institutions—and were thus erased more completely.

Once an article disappears, there is almost no way to rescue it. This is a characteristic of WeChat official accounts: the possibility of appeal or communication is infinitesimal, and one never knows who is firing the hidden arrows.

Though the physical shells of these articles are gone, their spirits remain. Below each entry, you will find a way to retrieve its “soul.”

This piece is dedicated to the memory of Foodthink’s “disappeared” articles.

  – Articles ordered by date of disappearance –  

404 not found NO.1

This article featured an interview with a former BeeBeeBee store manager, who described her struggle with algorithms that were “stupid as hell” yet touted as one of the brand’s core strengths. This reflects the underlying values of BeeBeeBee: viewing humans as inefficient, prioritising obedience to algorithms, and ignoring the insights and experience of frontline workers. For instance: replacing store managers with algorithmic systems; viewing communication between staff and customers as a waste of time; and demanding strict adherence to system instructions to provide a “good service experience” for consumers.

After publication, many readers remarked that the atmosphere described was intensely “cyberpunk”. BeeBeeBee customers also noted that the in-store robots were indeed an obstacle. As algorithms increasingly penetrate every aspect of commerce and daily life, the question Foodthink has always sought to explore is how technology can better contribute to creation, rather than becoming a tool for the oppression and alienation of workers.

Reply with [Little Bee] to the “Foodthink” WeChat official account to retrieve its spirit 🙏

404 not found NO.2

This article was published in October 2024 and deleted two days later. It introduced Singapore’s *Platform Workers Act*. From 1 January 2025, Singapore will improve social security for platform workers in sectors such as food delivery, courier services, and ride-hailing, covering work injury compensation, retirement, medical care, and housing. It also aims to enhance collective bargaining power through the establishment of “Platform Work Associations”. At the time of publication, Foodthink believed that Singapore’s *Platform Workers Act* was a landmark piece of legislation that could provide valuable reference for China and other countries in addressing labour protection issues within the platform economy.

In February this year, Meituan and JD.com announced plans to pay social security contributions for some of their riders this year, sparking widespread debate across China.

We do not know if Meituan was already discussing social security for its riders when this article was deleted. If such discussions were already underway, why was the article deleted? If they weren’t, when did Meituan decide to pay social security for its riders? — likely only once JD.com announced it would do so.

Reason for disappearance: This content is unavailable due to a violation. Following relevant complaints, this content violates the “Provisions on the Administration of Information Services for Public Accounts of Internet Users”.

Reply with [Ugly Tuan] to the “Foodthink” WeChat official account to retrieve its spirit 🙏

404 not found NO.3

In June 2024, Foodthink interviewed Benedikt Haerlin, a pioneer of the international anti-GMO movement. He has led campaigns against GMO crop legislation across multiple organisations and has long been at the forefront of promoting sustainable agriculture. In 2024, the promotion of GMO crops began across various regions of China. Through food industry processing, GMOs have already become a daily reality for everyone. However, the controversy surrounding GMOs has never vanished. Foodthink believes that discussing the GMO issue should not remain superficial; it requires both a deep dive into technical details and regulatory processes, as well as broad public participation. Benedikt Haerlin witnessed the rise of GMOs and the subsequent shattering of the myths surrounding this technology. Through this interview, we hoped his observations could open up new avenues for the discussion of GMO issues in China.

The article was published on 23 December 2024, but was immediately restricted by the WeChat official account platform, meaning many readers did not receive the notification. The article subsequently spread via Moments and group chats. On the 31st, the article was deleted. It was reposted on 2 January, only to be deleted again shortly thereafter.

Reason for disappearance: This content is unavailable due to a violation. Following relevant complaints, this content violates the “Provisions on the Administration of Information Services for Public Accounts of Internet Users”.

Reply with [Reverse] to the “Foodthink” WeChat official account to retrieve its spirit 🙏

404 not found NO.4

The article reviewed the most striking events and media works concerning delivery riders in 2024, including a rider in Hangzhou forced to kneel and an “Order King” who died suddenly on his e-bike. It also discussed two films about delivery riders with entirely different perspectives — *Another Hopeful Day* and *Upstream* — as well as two academic studies: *Digital Dash: Food Delivery Riders and the Labour Order of the Platform Economy* and *Transitional Labour: Food Delivery Riders under the Platform Economy*. Foodthink has consistently monitored the digital technology and capital behind food production and consumption, and their impact on nature and people within the food system. The article was published on 6 January; ten days later, it became unavailable on WeChat due to a “violation”.

Reason for disappearance: This content is unavailable due to a violation. Following relevant complaints, this content violates the “Provisions on the Administration of Information Services for Public Accounts of Internet Users”.

Reply with [Ugly Tuan] to the “Foodthink” WeChat official account to retrieve its spirit 🙏

404 not found NO.5

Published in March 2025, this article documented the plight of a farmer whose land was contaminated by scraps of plastic mulch drifting from a neighbouring company processing corn stalks. However, the local ecological environment department and the agricultural and rural affairs department simply passed the buck, with neither taking action. A day after publication, the article was reported multiple times by the government departments involved. Although we managed to keep the article live via an appeal to WeChat, it was still deleted two days later on the grounds that “complaints were received and it violated the Provisions on the Administration of Information Services for Public Accounts of Internet Users”. Articles published by Foodthink on other platforms were also subsequently taken down.

To date, the local ecological environment and agricultural departments continue to refuse to take action against the company, citing unclear jurisdiction. Perhaps it is because collecting plastic mulch is labour-intensive and soil remediation is a long process, whereas a few keystrokes and a phone call can delete an article — far quicker and more efficient. So, in the eyes of some, is it better to solve the person who raises the problem than to solve the actual problem?

Reason for disappearance: This content is unavailable due to a violation. Following relevant complaints, this content violates the “Provisions on the Administration of Information Services for Public Accounts of Internet Users”.

Reply with [Plastic Mulch] to the “Foodthink” WeChat official account to retrieve its spirit 🙏

May fewer articles be made to disappear. May all the vanished voices refuse to rest in peace, remaining heard, continuing to echo.

May you all be found. May none of you rest in peace. May all voices be heard.

We also welcome you to follow Foodthink on Douban, Xiaohongshu, and Tencent News. There will always be a way to reach us.

Please leave a comment and tell us which of the above articles left the strongest impression on you. Do you think this eulogy will also become a spirit?

*Cover image created using AI tools

Planning: Carrie

Editing: Tianle