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Censorship in China

Censorship in China
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Censorship in China. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Illustration: Henry Wong
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

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Women and gender

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

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Communist Party politics

How the fight over a Chinese bookstore heightened concerns over cultural squeeze

The fate of a popular venue in the southwestern city of Chengdu has highlighted the increasing pressure on public activities.

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The You Xing Bookstore in Chengdu was at risk of closure. Photo: Handout
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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Women and gender

‘AI censorship’ of Together raises new fears for future of Chinese LGBTQ films

A public outcry over a scene where a gay couple were turned into a heterosexual one has triggered a wider debate about the use of technology.

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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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In its latest online censorship campaign, China’s internet regulator has punished influencers and internet platforms for “presenting negative emotions that damage the online ecosystem”. Photo: Shutterstock
Social media

Kuaishou, Weibo warned as China cracks down on trending topics

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

Women and gender

China’s Weibo shuts down social media accounts for ‘inciting gender antagonism’

The bans target accounts that raised awareness about sexual harassment and women’s issues, as well as one that was critical of feminism.

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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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Fan Chunli, a 50-year-old woman from a small rural village, has struck a chord in China with stand-up comedy about her divorce. Photo: iQIYI
Cybersecurity

China rolls out ‘voluntary’ cyber ID amid concerns over privacy, censorship

The new virtual ID scheme has been in the beta stage since a draft regulation was launched in July last year.

Young people play computer games at an internet cafe in Beijing on September 10, 2021. Photo: AFP
Mainland China

Palace intrigue conquers global screens: has China cast its new soft power?

As overseas fans binge on Chinese hit streaming shows, slick productions could boost country’s image on the global stage, experts say.

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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.

Hainan

China will drop the Great Firewall for some users, but only in southern Hainan

Employees of companies operating in the island province can apply for the ‘Global Connect’ scheme, but some content will remain restricted.

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China’s so-called Great Firewall enforces one of the strictest internet censorship regimes in the world. Photo: Shutterstock
US-China relations

US lawmakers raise concerns about Chinese national ballet performance in Washington

Politicians say National Ballet of China performance at Kennedy Centre is part of the Communist Party’s political machinery’.

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The National Ballet of China performs The Chinese New Year, a version of The Nutcracker, with children from the US at the Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts in Washington on January 29. Photo: Xinhua
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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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.

American cinema

How Chinese film fans embraced Cloud Atlas, movie spurned elsewhere

The Wachowkis and Tom Tykwer’s adaptation of David Mitchell’s novel was a box-office flop everywhere except China, despite a starry cast.

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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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The Cyberspace Administration of China pledges to clean up video content that could be harmful to China’s youth. Photo: Shutterstock
Accidents and disasters in China

Man accused of stabbing Japanese boy jobless with criminal record: Chinese media

Information about the sensitive case is tightly controlled by Chinese police, media and internet censors.

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Chinese paramilitary police officers march past the entrance of the Japanese embassy in Beijing on Thursday. China has expressed “regret and sadness” after a Japanese schoolboy died after being stabbed on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
China society

Video | Kanye West’s upcoming China concert draws sarcastic rebukes on social media

The American rapper, also known as Ye, is set to perform in Hainan province on Sunday.

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Communist Party politics

China tightens ideological control with warnings against rock ’n’ roll, internet

New college textbook drawing on speeches of President Xi Jinping is latest move from Beijing to tighten ideological control and national security.

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China society

My Take | China’s censorship of cyberspace ID criticism risks losing a chance to improve

Chinese law requires new regulations to solicit public feedback, but legitimate concerns about giving netizens a single national ID are being silenced.

A man holds an iPhone as he visits Sina’s Weibo microblogging site in Shanghai on May 29, 2012. Photo: Reuters
China’s Communist Party

China mutes law professor on social media after cybersecurity ID plan criticism

Before the switch-off, Lao Dongyan compared online attacks of her views to the Cultural Revolution’s big character posters.

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Tsinghua University legal expert Lao Dongyan has been muted on Weibo, where she has nearly 800,000 followers. Photo: Baidu
Cybersecurity

China’s leading apps, including WeChat and Taobao, test proposed cyber ID system

More than 50 apps recently started accepting virtual IDs created under this proposed authentication system for user account registration and login.

Artificial intelligence

China names and shames agents offering unauthorised local access to ChatGPT

The Cyberspace Administration of China’s action shows its resolve to enforce domestic rules on generative artificial intelligence that were rolled out in August last year.

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