China is stepping up efforts to block software that allows internet users to access banned websites during a top political meeting this week, a leading provider of firewall-breaking software told AFP. It is said that there is.
The Chinese government carries out the world’s most extensive censorship of the internet, with mainland Chinese web users unable to access everything from Google to news websites without using a virtual private network (VPN).
And as thousands of delegates gather in Beijing this week for the annual “two-session” conference, VPN software is having an increasingly difficult time evading censorship and has been linked to previous sensitive political events. Outages are occurring much more frequently than in the past.
“Currently, there is increased censorship in China due to political meetings,” a representative for Astrill, a Liechtenstein-based service that is the most popular VPN service for foreigners in China, confirmed to AFP.
“Unfortunately, not all VPN protocols are functional at this time,” they said.
“We are working intensively to get all services back to normal, but there is no estimated arrival date at this time.”
Using a VPN without government permission is illegal in China, as is using software to access blocked websites.
However, state media employees and diplomats are allowed access to banned websites such as X (formerly Twitter).
Security has been stepped up across Beijing throughout both sessions, with security guards patrolling the streets with sniffer dogs and elderly volunteers wearing red armbands monitoring pedestrians for suspicious behavior.
Chinese social media giant Weibo is also quick to block sensitive topics.
All hashtags discussing the Chinese government’s decision to cancel traditional press conferences by the country’s prime minister were immediately removed from search results.
Another comment about China’s economic woes that declared, “There is no future for middle-class children” was also removed.
China’s domestic media is state-controlled, and widespread social media censorship is often used to suppress negative and critical reporting.
Regulators have previously urged investors not to read foreign news reports about China.
In a speech last year, President Xi Jinping said that the ruling Communist Party’s control over the internet was “strengthening” and that it was important for the state to “govern cyberspace.”
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