How It Works: The Great Firewall of China

Summary

The Great Firewall of China is a powerful internet censorship system that blocks access to foreign websites like Google, Facebook, and YouTube. Its purpose is to control information, protect citizens from harmful content, and limit foreign influence. The firewall uses methods like IP blocking, DNS poisoning, and self-censorship by Chinese companies. Despite these controls, VPNs offer a way to bypass restrictions, though they are increasingly targeted by the government. While the firewall supports local tech giants like Baidu and Tencent, it also stifles innovation and limits access to global knowledge, posing long-term economic and social consequences.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Great Firewall of China blocks or throttles popular websites like Google, YouTube, and Facebook, severely limiting internet access in the country.
• 😀 The censorship in China is aimed at protecting citizens from 'dangerous' content, but critics argue it severely restricts freedom online.
• 😀 China is ranked as the worst country in terms of online internet freedom, with the Great Firewall becoming increasingly sophisticated over time.
• 😀 China has used the Great Firewall to ban cryptocurrency trading, forcing exchanges to relocate and virtually erasing the industry from the country.
• 😀 The censorship also extends to seemingly harmless topics, like banning the character Winnie the Pooh after comparisons to President Xi Jinping.
• 😀 Sensitive topics such as the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre are completely suppressed, with major discrepancies in search results on Chinese search engines.
• 😀 The internet in China is heavily regulated due to historical concerns over the spread of Western ideologies, starting with economic reforms in the 1980s.
• 😀 The Chinese government uses three primary methods for censorship: IP blocking, DNS poisoning, and self-censorship by local firms.
• 😀 IP blocking prevents access to certain foreign websites by filtering requests through the Great Firewall, blocking disallowed IP addresses.
• 😀 DNS poisoning manipulates the responses from DNS servers to prevent users from reaching specific websites, such as Google or Facebook.
• 😀 Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are commonly used to bypass the Great Firewall, but the government is increasingly cracking down on VPN traffic.
• 😀 Despite the firewall's effectiveness in isolating China from Western ideas, it has led to a lack of access to global scholarly work and hindered scientific progress.

Q & A

What is the Great Firewall of China?

The Great Firewall of China is a censorship and surveillance system that the Chinese government uses to control and restrict access to foreign websites and information, essentially creating an isolated internet within China. It involves blocking or throttling websites like Google, YouTube, and Facebook.

Why is the Chinese government so focused on censoring the internet?

The Chinese government claims it is protecting citizens from harmful or dangerous content, while critics argue that it restricts freedom of expression and access to information. Censorship is seen as a way to maintain control over public opinion and prevent the spread of ideas that challenge the state's authority.

How has the Great Firewall evolved over the years?

The Great Firewall has become increasingly sophisticated with the advancement of technology and the incorporation of artificial intelligence. It has expanded to block more content and has become more effective at identifying and filtering unwanted material.

What was the impact of China banning cryptocurrency trading?

A year ago, China banned cryptocurrency trading by blocking foreign cryptocurrency exchanges and forcing local ones to relocate overseas. The ban caused a dramatic reduction in the cryptocurrency industry in China, effectively erasing its presence in the country.

Why was Winnie the Pooh banned in China?

Winnie the Pooh was banned after internet memes emerged comparing the bear to Chinese President Xi Jinping. These memes became widely popular, which led to censorship and the removal of any references to Winnie the Pooh on Chinese platforms.

How does China suppress information about sensitive historical events like the Tiananmen Square Massacre?

China uses censorship to suppress information about events like the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre. When attempting to search for topics like 'June 4th', Chinese search engines such as Baidu return filtered results, effectively erasing such events from public memory.

What is the history behind China's internet censorship policies?

China's internet censorship began in the mid-1990s with the launch of 'Project Golden Shield,' which was initially intended for surveillance but soon became a tool for mass censorship. The focus was on controlling the spread of foreign ideologies and preserving China's political structure.

What are the primary methods used to block foreign websites in China?

The Great Firewall uses three primary methods to block foreign websites: IP blocking (where certain IP addresses are blocked), DNS poisoning (where incorrect domain information is returned), and self-censorship (where Chinese companies police their own content).

How do VPNs work to bypass the Great Firewall?

VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) create an encrypted tunnel between a user’s device and an external server, allowing users to access blocked content by routing their traffic through servers located outside of China. This method, known as 'climbing over the wall,' has become increasingly popular despite crackdowns.

What are the consequences of China's internet censorship for innovation and scientific progress?

China's internet censorship has hindered scientific progress by limiting access to scholarly work developed overseas. This restriction hampers the exchange of ideas, which is critical for advancing knowledge and fostering innovation in a globalized world.