• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Lockdown Drones In China Compared To Black Mirror As They Broadcast Bizarre Messages To Citizens

Home> News

Updated 12:49 8 Apr 2022 GMT+1Published 12:34 8 Apr 2022 GMT+1

Lockdown Drones In China Compared To Black Mirror As They Broadcast Bizarre Messages To Citizens

Shanghai was placed under a total lockdown earlier this week, with 26 million residents banned from leaving their homes for any reason.

Hannah Smith

Hannah Smith

Featured Image Credit: Weibo/Newsflash

Topics: China, Coronavirus, Black Mirror, World News, Technology

Hannah Smith
Hannah Smith

Hannah is a London-based journalist covering news and features for UNILAD. She's especially interested in social and political activism and culture.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Lockdown measures in place in Shanghai have been described as 'dystopian' after a drone was filmed telling residents to 'control their soul's desire for freedom'.

China's biggest city was placed under a total lockdown earlier this week, with 26 million residents banned from leaving their homes for any reason as the government deals with the country's largest Covid-19 outbreak yet.

Now, a new video shared to social media platform Weibo has revealed just how tough the restrictions have become.

The clip, which unlike several others critical of the lockdown has not been removed by censors, shows residents in an apartment complex taking to their balconies to sing and protest the lack of supplies, in scenes reminiscent of those seen in Italy two years ago.

Advert

However, the communal spirit is soon stamped out by a government drone, which flies over the apartment blocks delivering a message.

"Please comply with Covid restrictions. Control your soul’s desire for freedom. Do not open the window or sing," a recorded announcement stated, according to The Economist's Alice Su.

The message has sparked comparisons to a range of dystopian films and TV series, with one person tweeting: "Being scolded by drones with the message to ‘control your soul’s desire for freedom’ makes Black Mirror look dated."

"This is some Blade Runner dystopian s**t," another user wrote in response to the video, with a third pointing out the mixed messages of the demand, tweeting 'ironically fresh air is essential for eradicating covid'.

Advert

The strict lockdown measures in Shanghai have seen residents struggling to order food, water and medicines, which can now only be accessed through booking government-run deliveries, which are said to be growing scarce due to the scale of demand.

Shanghai residents are banned from leaving their homes (Alamy)
Shanghai residents are banned from leaving their homes (Alamy)

As a result, rare protests have broken out in the city, with some residents taking to the street to confront police and call for an end to the confinement.

As well as drones and a heavy police presence, Chinese authorities have been making use of other technologies, including its hi-tech surveillance system and even robot dogs, which have been seen roaming the streets with megaphones taped to their backs broadcasting messages encouraging residents to follow protocols.

Advert

China has continued to employ a 'zero Covid' strategy throughout the pandemic, using citywide lockdowns to stamp out outbreaks. However, the Shanghai outbreak has continued to grow despite the tough measures in place, with 20,000 cases reported in the city on Thursday (7 April).

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]

  • Netflix fans ‘emotionally destroyed’ by new ‘top 10’ Black Mirror episode they ‘can’t stop thinking about’
  • Dark meaning behind traumatizing Black Mirror episode that's left Netflix users feeling 'terrible'
  • Top 5 Black Mirror episodes to stream on Netflix including ‘hopeful’ one which will ‘change your life’
  • Netflix users 'canceling their subscriptions' after watching traumatizing Black Mirror episode that's left them feeling 'terrible'

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Harry Potter fans in complete shock after discovering 'insanely random' role Emma Watson has now

    Emma Watson has ditched the film industry for a quieter life in Oxford, UK

    Celebrity
  • an hour ago

    JoJo Siwa discusses truth behind her sexuality after announcing she's 'no longer a lesbian' in Big Brother house

    JoJo Swia confirmed this month that she and Chris Hughes are dating

    Celebrity
  • 2 hours ago

    JD Vance slammed for giving 'racist' nickname to US Senator Alex Padilla in disturbing interview footage

    Vice President JD Vance has been called out for supposedly using the wrong name for a US Senate on purpose

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Trump labeled 'unhinged' as bizarre footage shows him issuing severe 'danger' warning to journalist

    The president says he will decide in the next two weeks whether the US will get involved in the conflict

    News