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China’s internet censorship

China’s internet censorship
The latest news, analysis and opinion on China’s internet censorship. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
The Acropolis in Athens. A social media account linked to a Chinese provincial government has criticised pseudo-historical theories denying the existence of figures such as Aristotle. Photo: EPA
Internet Culture

China targets pseudo-history conspiracists who claim civilisations were stolen

Zhejiang agency says pseudo-historical claims – made worse by AI – reflect ignorance and fracture social cognition.

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Internet

China curbs live stream tipping with new rules to protect minors

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US-China relations

Chinese social media is awash with criticisms of the US. Can it go too far?

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Mainland China

Chinese social media bans female Uygur comic over marriage jokes

Xiao Pa, real name Paziliyaer Paerhati, is said to have ‘stirred up gender conflicts and created anxiety over marriage and childbirth’.

Xiao Pa began performing stand-up comedy full-time in 2020. Photo: QQ.com
Internet

Xibei vs the influencer: why Beijing called time on a restaurant food feud

Communist Party mouthpiece says it’s worrying that online posts can create a crisis for a long-standing business.

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Artificial intelligence

Jailed Chinese AI chatbot developers appeal in landmark pornography case

Defendants given prison sentences for creating sexual content for profit via their AI emotional companions.

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China’s Communist Party

China’s ideology chief calls on propaganda officials to focus on the economy

Cai Qi – who is responsible for ideology, culture and internet regulation – tells cadres to make ‘good start’ to the next five-year plan.

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Chinese ideology chief Cai Qi told cadres at the meeting on Monday: “We need to do our job well in media and communication, with a particular focus on the economy.” Photo: Xinhua
TikTok

Are China’s social media apps the soft power play to win over the West?

After the US migration to RedNote, experts say transforming engagement into influence will require a ‘light touch’ from Beijing.

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China property

Shanghai launches clampdown on property market doom-mongering

City’s internet regulators shut down 70,000 accounts in a ‘special campaign’ against pessimistic content as real estate jitters continue.

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Women and gender

China’s LGBTQ community loses key lifeline as Blued, Finka apps vanish

Purge of popular same-sex dating sites from app stores fuels fears about shrinking digital spaces for the country’s LGBTQ community.

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Apps such as Blued have played a crucial role in the lives of Chinese LGBTQ people, supporting identity development, social relationships and community networks, according to analysts. Photo: Facebook/ Blued
Internet

Are China’s stars leading fans to be more nationalist – or the other way round?

Study out of the US and Britain looks at how nationalism flows and influences others on Chinese social media.

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Researchers from universities in the US and Britain used “vector autoregression” to assess how Chinese celebrities and fans influence each other through their social media posts, specifically on Weibo, over time. Photo: AFP
Censorship

Ex-state media editor warns against ‘collective silence’ on Chinese social media

Ex-Global Times chief Hu Xijin says there should be greater scope for ‘citizens to exchange information’ on social media.

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Censorship

China’s ‘Clean Net’ campaign targets ‘negative emotions’ in annual online purge

Internet watchdog’s crackdown broadens battle against pessimism, punishes influencers and platforms ‘selling anxiety’ on web.

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Censorship in China

Kuaishou, Weibo warned as China cracks down on trending topics

The cyber regulator’s actions follow similar actions targeting lifestyle social media platform RedNote.

Kuaishou is China’s second-most popular short video platform. Photo: Shutterstock
China's military weapons

Want to relive the Chinese military parade? Try this cuddly missile plushie

‘Sleep with the DF-5C pillow, as it provides the highest sense of security … It covers the entire globe,’ goes the blurb for an ICBM toy.

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Toymakers across Taobao, the country’s biggest e-commerce site, are busy making stuffed versions of the DF-61 and DF-5C domestically made intercontinental ballistic missiles that were unveiled in last week’s parade. Photo: Handout
Women and gender

Chinese officials accuse online stand-up shows of stirring ‘gender antagonism’

Zhejiang officials hope ‘rising stand-up comedy scene can become more rational and profound, with less division and more understanding’.

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ByteDance

ByteDance’s China head of content quality leaves amid stricter censorship

Li Tong, who led Douyin’s content quality team, is no longer listed in ByteDance’s internal employee system, according to sources.

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Internet

China fines ultranationalist blogger Sima Nan US$1.2 million for tax evasion

In November, after decades of posting and amassing more than 50 million followers, outspoken blogger went silent on social media.

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Chinese state media says Beijing tax authorities detected tax fraud by outspoken blogger Sima Nan. He was fined more than 9 million yuan. Photo: AFP
China's military weapons

China tightens rules on publishing information about the military

‘Online information providers’ face a range of new curbs including a ban on publishing information about weapons systems and facilities.

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China technology

Weibo adjusts algorithms to improve ‘public values’ amid government crackdown

Weibo has been under fire in recent years for having too many trending topics about celebrities.

Shanghai

Shanghai mulls plan to bypass Great Firewall in bid to woo foreign investment

Shanghai is not alone in such efforts, as Nansha district in Guangzhou is implementing cross-border data transfers with Hong Kong and Macau.

China’s rigid internet regulations have kept many foreign platforms out of reach unless using a VPN. Photo: Shutterstock Images
US-China relations

Opinion | US and China should follow lead of their youth bonding on RedNote

Their interactions help debunk Washington’s ‘China threat’ narrative and should give Beijing the courage to relax its censorship and trust Chinese youth.

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For many young Americans, RedNote has given them their first direct interaction with mainland Chinese people. Photo: SCMP
China’s Communist Party

Unplug ‘Great Firewall’ to help China compete, Shanghai lawmaker says

Legislator Mao Xiangdong calls for lifting of internet restrictions in free-trade zones, financial districts and universities.

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China’s Communist Party

RedNote’s influx of ‘TikTok refugees’ could be a double-edged sword for Beijing

The authorities will be hoping new users of the app will get a favourable impression of China – but may be unnerved by some of their posts.

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China’s Communist Party

Chinese officials urged not to ignore public opinion

Cadres warned to pay attention to complaints from members of the public to avoid more serious problems later on.

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Officials were urged to take account of online comments. Photo: Shutterstock Images
Trending in China

Chinese ex-gymnast hit with new social media ban over sexy dance routines

Former sporting hero’s provocative live streaming sessions lead to fresh social media gag, dividing opinion on mainland social media.

Ex-China top gymnast Wu Liufang’s social media account is suspended again over her sexy live streaming sessions. Photo: SCMP composite/Weibo/Douyin
China’s Communist Party

China stamps out AI misuse to preserve national literature and ideology

Beijing seeks to balance AI use to boost the economy while combating deepfakes, digital misinformation and altering of public perception.

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China’s Communist Party

Exclusive | Chinese internet censors ban anti-West firebrand Sima Nan for a year

The ultranationalist blogger has not posted online since Tuesday when he voiced support for Donald Trump in the US election.

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