13,000 Websites Blocked in China Over the Past Three Years

Since 2015, China has blocked 13,000 websites due to 'violations' of its internet laws. Wang Shengjun, deputy of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China, stated on Sunday, December 24, that 'these actions have had a significant deterrent effect.' A report published by 'Freedom House' in 2015 indicated that despite having the largest number of internet users, China ranked lower than Iran and Syria in terms of internet restrictions. This year, China mandated foreign companies to store Chinese user data within the country. Additionally, China has imposed more content restrictions on the internet this year, making it much harder for Chinese users to bypass censorship. Google, Facebook, Twitter, and media outlets like The New York Times, along with many foreign websites, are blocked in China. Under the guise of 'cyber sovereignty,' China enforces internet restrictions, claiming these measures are essential for national security. According to regulations implemented since 2000, websites must register to operate in China and guarantee the 'legality of any content.' Any violation of these regulations can lead to fines or shutdowns of the offending website. One method of bypassing censorship is using VPNs, which the Chinese government has cracked down on severely. Last week, an individual in China was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for selling VPNs online. Critics argue that internet restrictions have intensified since Xi Jinping came to power in 2012.