That is what makes Hu and his associates’ Twitter activity so repulsive. Peng’s words, choices, and even her body are apparently not her own. Assuming that there is truth to the allegations levied against Zhang, Peng is now being victimized all over again, used by people more powerful than her for their own twisted ends.

In all likelihood, the Peng Shuai affair cannot be resolved to the WTA’s liking. As long as Peng and her loved ones live in China, no one can ever again be sure that she is speaking freely. But this likewise means it is difficult to prove that Peng is being coerced. Twitter may find no cause to act if it simply measures the Chinese state media campaign against its terms of service.

But make no mistake: Hu and his friends are conducting acts of evil, and Twitter is providing a witting platform for them to do so.