The Chinese government has wiped out over a million social media posts as part of a crackdown on “self-media,” or accounts that publish news and information without being run by the state. In addition, Beijing frequently arrests citizens and censors accounts for sharing factual information deemed sensitive or critical of the Communist Party, the government, or the military on popular apps such as WeChat, Weibo, and Douyin.
On Friday, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said it closed 67,000 social media accounts and deleted hundreds of thousands of posts between March 10 and May 22 as part of a broader “rectification” campaign. The agency also urged netizens to actively monitor and report illegal “self-media,” provide tips, and jointly maintain a clean cyberspace.
In January, the CAC stepped up its efforts to regulate users of China’s popular social media platforms. It required administrators of independently operated accounts to register with the agency and refrain from commenting on inappropriate or harmful topics to public order. It also tightened restrictions on virtual private networks, requiring that all network connections go through the government-sanctioned Internet Exchange Point of Beijing or IXP. In addition, the authority is working to expand the IXP to cities and towns across the country by 2020.
China has consolidated its control over the state bureaucracy, universities, businesses, religious groups, and civil society associations to an extent not seen in decades. The regime’s moves have triggered a growing tide of discontent among elites within and outside the CCP. It has also triggered the rise of anti-corruption movements and a resurgence of calls for human rights protections and avenues to protect fundamental liberties, including freedom of speech, assembly, and association.
During the pandemic, authorities have censored calls for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus outbreak and criticism of Chinese-produced vaccines; prosecuted journalists and activists who reported on the pandemic; and harassed family members of victims. The country has also slapped strict controls on foreign travel and seized the passports of two rights activists who planned to leave for the United States this year. They are being held incommunicado under RSDL and cannot see their lawyers.
According to International Christian Concern, the country has increased censorship of Christian groups that distribute Bible-related apps on popular smartphone apps. In October, a digital Bible company distributed on Apple’s App Store was told to remove its app from the market due to the need to obtain approval from the government before distributing it in mainland China. In other censorship-related developments, Bitter Winter reported that on National Security Education Day on April 15, officials mounted exhibitions and had students across the country sign pledges to renounce “Xie jiao,” or illegal religious activities by groups labeled as cults. They include Falun Gong, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the Association of Disciples. In November, the organization Open Doors USA reported that in Shanxi, Henan, and Jiangsu provinces, authorities threatened Christians who use social media and smartphone apps to distribute religious materials with the loss of welfare benefits and a reduction in pensions if they didn’t replace their crosses with pictures of Xi Jinping.