What is China censoring online? | CNBC Explains

A trip to China can lead to an unintentional digital detox due to widespread internet censorship. Popular platforms like Facebook, Google, YouTube, Yahoo, Instagram, Snapchat, and Reddit are completely blocked. China's internet restrictions are among the most sophisticated globally, blocking not only social media and search engines but also news websites and even Apple's iBooks and iTunes movie offerings.

LinkedIn is an exception to China's internet restrictions. Experts suggest this is because LinkedIn helps connect China's workforce with the global economy, assisting Chinese companies in finding foreign partners and talent. Additionally, political discourse is not common on LinkedIn, and the company openly complies with Chinese regulations, even offering a simplified Chinese version of its platform.

Instead of loosening, internet restrictions in China are becoming tighter for its 730 million internet users. President Xi Jinping recently implemented stricter rules for online news portals and network providers. The Cyberspace Administration is overhauling internet regulations, requiring licenses for personal websites, apps, forums, blogs, microblogs, or internet broadcasts.

China's internet functions more like an intranet, with an estimated 96% of online traffic directed to Chinese servers. This blocking of international rivals like Google, Facebook, and Amazon has inadvertently benefited homegrown Chinese companies such as Baidu, Tencent, and Alibaba, which have grown into some of the world's largest internet enterprises. The number of Chinese internet users continues to grow rapidly, with 43 million new users joining last year.

Despite restrictions, many people in China use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to access the internet. However, China is cracking down on VPN use, threatening to stop illegal internet activity and imposing heavy fines and vague punishments. A new law also requires domestic and foreign internet companies to practice censorship, register user names, and assist in government surveillance. This censorship aims to prevent Western influences and promote positive propaganda, controlling public opinion.