Political streamer Hasan Piker revealed that Chinese police briefly detained his group and searched their phones during a recent IRL streaming trip to China.
According to Piker’s on-stream account, officers stopped the group after believing they were mocking a sensitive cultural or political symbol. The police questioned them and conducted on-the-spot phone inspections before allowing them to continue.
Piker characterized the encounter as routine under local enforcement norms in China. He drew comparisons to his past experiences with Western law enforcement, noting that he had been tear gassed during protests in France and flash banged in Los Angeles.
The streamer suggested their status as foreigners may have attracted police attention. He framed the officers’ approach as less aggressive than some of his prior interactions with Western police during protest coverage.
Fellow streamer xQc later discussed what happened on his stream. He pointed out that creators face real risks when openly criticizing authoritarian governments while physically in those countries.
xQc also highlighted key differences in phone search laws between China and the United States. In the US, police need a warrant to search a cell phone following the Supreme Court’s 2014 ruling in Riley v. California. Chinese police operate under different legal standards that allow administrative checks without equivalent judicial oversight.
China’s public security forces have broad discretionary powers to conduct on-the-spot inspections. Phone searches for prohibited content or politically sensitive material are routine, particularly in high-security areas or during heightened alert periods.
The country has specific laws protecting national symbols and prohibiting content deemed disrespectful to state heroes or politically subversive. Foreign visitors streaming or filming in public spaces can face scrutiny if authorities perceive violations of these standards.
