Internet censorship in China

Internet censorship in the People's Republic of China means the government decides what people can see and read online. Some events or ideas are not allowed to be shared. Many websites, apps, and games are blocked, which people call the Great Firewall of China. The government blocks these websites in different ways, like DNS spoofing and stopping access to some IP addresses.

Big websites and services in China must follow rules about what people can post online. They often need users' real names and other personal details. Companies use technology to find and remove content that is not allowed.

Some people use special tools to see blocked websites, but the government watches these tools closely. Some groups say that people who speak out online may face trouble. However, places like Hong Kong and Macau have different rules, though the government still watches Internet use there.

See also: Mass surveillance in China and UN Chinese Language Day

Background

Further information: Censorship in China

One idea behind controlling the Internet in China started in the 1980s. A leader said, "If you open a window for fresh air, you have to expect some flies to blow in." This idea came when China was changing and opening up to the world. The government wanted to keep its ideas safe by stopping other ideas that might cause trouble.

The Internet came to China in 1994 and quickly became popular for sharing information. The government worried that online groups could be hard to control. So, they made projects to watch and manage what people posted online. They also built systems to monitor Internet use and remove messages they thought were harmful.

Legislative basis

Further information: Public opinion guidance

The government of China says it can decide what people see online because of its rules. In 2010, a document said that China’s laws stop people from sharing things that could weaken the government, divide the country, or hurt its reputation. Foreign companies and people are allowed to use the Internet in China but must follow China’s laws.

China started controlling the Internet with three main rules. The first rule, made in 1996, said that Internet services need special permission and that all Internet traffic must go through paths set by the government. The second rule, from 1994, gave the Ministry of Public Security the job of keeping Internet safety. These rules helped shape how China manages online activities today.

Enforcement

In 1997, new rules were made to control some kinds of online speech. These rules were used in different ways in different places. Sometimes blocks were removed for special events.

China bought technology to help control what people see online. Companies like Google helped at first, but later changed their policies. In 2011, a new office was created to manage internet rules in China. By 2014, this office had more power to watch over online content.

In 2019, new rules were made to stop certain types of content. During protests in 2022, companies were asked to watch more closely what people shared online.

Internet companies in China watch what people post to make sure it follows the rules. Some companies post news and then remove it later if asked. Users are sometimes required to use their real names when posting online.

Technical implementation

Current methods

Main article: Great Firewall of China § Blocking methods

The Great Firewall blocks content in many ways. It stops some internet addresses, changes where addresses point, and checks information to slow down or stop some activities. New tools also help find ideas that do not follow the rules.

Golden shield project

The Golden Shield Project is a big system made by the Ministry of Public Security of China. It began in 1998 and was checked in 2006. Its goal is to make a network to help police work better and faster.

In 2009, a rule said that computers sold in China should include special software called Green Dam Youth Escort. Later, this rule changed, and only schools and public places needed to use it. Some people thought this software blocked certain websites, but others believed it was used to control what people could see online.

Targets of censorship

See also: List of websites blocked in mainland China

China controls what people can see and read online. Many websites are blocked, including some big global sites. The government says this is to stop harmful content.

Some topics that are often blocked include discussions about protests, freedom of speech, and certain political movements. Social media posts that talk about organizing protests or spreading rumors are also removed. The government uses technology to watch and control what people post online.

Specific examples of Internet censorship

Main article: 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre

The Chinese government controls what people can see online. They block information about certain events, like the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Websites and search engines must follow strict rules set by the government. Words related to these events cannot be searched or talked about online.

During special times, the government blocks many foreign websites and services. They also stop people from talking about these topics on social media. Even in recent years, the government uses technology to stop posts about these events from appearing online.

Main article: COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China § Censorship and police responses

During the COVID-19 pandemic, China also controlled information about the virus. Some doctors who spoke up early were stopped from sharing their concerns. The government blocked talks about the virus’s origins and used online tools to stop people from discussing the pandemic openly.

Other topics, like accidents and disagreements with other countries, have also been blocked. The government wants to make sure only certain information is shared online, and they work hard to stop other views from spreading.

International influence

Main article: Chinese censorship abroad

Big companies like Yahoo!, AOL, and Microsoft Teams must follow rules set by the Chinese government to work in China. This means they need to watch what people post online. For example, Microsoft removed some posts from its blogging service, Windows Live Spaces, because they did not follow these rules.

Some websites, like the Chinese version of Myspace, have extra rules that stop people from talking about certain topics, such as politics or religion. Users can also report others if they think they are doing something wrong.

There are also worries that China’s rules about the internet might help its own companies grow, and some countries have asked big tech companies to stand up for people’s right to share ideas freely online.

Evasion

Main article: Internet censorship circumvention

People in China sometimes find ways to see information that is normally blocked. One common way is by using special internet connections called VPNs. These help people access the internet as if they were in another country, going around the rules. The government has tried to stop many of these services.

There are also other methods people use, like changing website addresses or using special internet tools. Some people even use creative language to avoid being caught by the internet filters. These efforts show how some people try to find ways around the rules set by the government.

Economic impact

Local Chinese businesses like Baidu, Tencent, and Alibaba have grown because China has blocked international rivals from entering the market. This has helped local companies do better.

The government's actions have helped some approved telecom companies grow. One company's profits rose a lot in 2018, and its stock price also went up that year.