Source: AFP
China has stepped up efforts to block software that allows internet users to access banned websites during a top political meeting this week, a leading firewall software provider told AFP.
Beijing applies some of the world’s most extensive internet censorship, with mainland Chinese web users unable to access everything from Google to news sites without using a virtual private network (VPN).
And as thousands of delegates gather in Beijing this week for the annual “Two Sessions” meeting, VPN software increasingly struggles to circumvent censorship, while outages have become far more frequent, even compared to past sensitive political events.
“Right now, there is increased censorship due to political meetings in China,” a spokesperson for Liechtenstein-based Astrill — one of the most popular VPN services for foreigners in China — confirmed to AFP.
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“Unfortunately, not all VPN protocols work at this time,” they said.
“We are working hard to restore all services to normal, but we currently do not have an ETA.”
Using a VPN without a government license is illegal in China, as is using the software to access blocked websites.
However, state media workers and diplomats are allowed to access banned websites such as X, formerly Twitter.
Security has been beefed up across Beijing throughout the Two Sessions, with security officers patrolling the streets with sniffer dogs and elderly volunteers in red armbands watching pedestrians for suspicious behaviour.
Chinese social media giant Weibo has also been quick to block sensitive topics.
All hashtags discussing Beijing’s decision to cancel a traditional press conference by the country’s prime minister were quickly removed from search results.
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![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/7d24535431b86eac.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
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And another, a reference to China’s economic woes stating that “middle class children have no future” was also removed.
China’s domestic media is state-controlled, and widespread social media censorship is often used to suppress negative stories or critical coverage.
Regulators have previously urged investors to avoid reading foreign news about China.
In a speech last year, President Xi Jinping said the ruling Communist Party’s control over the internet had been “strengthened” and that it was vital for the state to “rule cyberspace”.
Source: AFP