Tencent, a Chinese tech giant founded in 1998, has been under scrutiny for its close ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In October 2023, the Chinese government took a "golden share" in a domestic subsidiary of Tencent, indicating increased control over the tech sector by the CCP. This move suggests that Tencent's operations and financial activities may be influenced by the Chinese government's policies and goals.
Tencent's CEO and co-founder, Ma Huateng, is a member of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's national parliament, which further links the company to the CCP. Critics argue that Tencent is not independent of the CCP and serves its goals with every purchase, silence, and promotion.