Late last year, Duan, a university student in China, used a virtual private network to bypass China’s stringent internet censorship and downloaded Discord. Overnight, he found himself in a vibrant community where thousands debated political ideas and staged mock elections. Discussions ranged from democracy to communism, filling a void in a society where openly discussing politics is nearly impossible.
The tight control over the internet in China has taken a harrowing turn. Duan’s fascination with this newfound internet freedom was sparked by a popular vlogger, Yang Minghao, known online as MHYYY. Yang’s discussions about the Discord group on YouTube, another platform blocked in China, piqued Duan’s interest. However, their online sanctuary was short-lived. In July, Duan and several other Discord members were detained and interrogated by police about their association with Yang and their use of VPNs. Duan was released after 24 hours but remains concerned for Yang, who has not posted since late July.
This incident highlights the expanding severity of China’s censorship regime, where even followers of unfavorable accounts are now under scrutiny. Maya Wang, associate China director at Human Rights Watch, remarked, ‘I don’t think I’ve seen followers of influencers being questioned to this extent in the past.’ The overarching principle in China remains: Do not form a community, especially one related to politics, even in private.
Being penalized for online comments is not uncommon in China, where digital surveillance is pervasive. The government employs a robust firewall blocking access to foreign websites like Google and Facebook. Sensitive content critical of the government often results in bans or worse. Last year, Ning Bin was sentenced to over two years in prison for posting ‘inappropriate remarks’ and ‘false information’ on X and Pincong, a Chinese-language forum.
Even staunch nationalists are not exempt. Hu Xijin, a pro-government commentator, appears to have been banned from social media after his remarks deviated from Beijing’s narrative. Duan noted that while the police call was not entirely unexpected, the intensity of the interrogation shocked him. ‘Just complaining in a group chat on overseas software is not allowed,’ he said.
In February, Li Ying, who runs a popular Chinese-language X account, warned his followers in China about police interrogations, urging them to unfollow him to avoid trouble. He revealed that police were contacting users with Chinese phone numbers and even pressuring relatives of overseas users to unfollow his account. This pattern of intimidation extends to other bloggers like Wang Zhi’an, a China-based journalist now in Japan.
China’s ministry of public security has intensified its crackdown on dissent, declaring 2024 as a ‘special campaign to combat and rectify online rumors.’ Local authorities have enthusiastically supported this campaign, with Guangdong province reporting over 1,000 cases dealt with this year. William Farris, a lawyer studying Chinese state prosecutions, noted that internet cleaning campaigns are a regular occurrence, dating back to at least 2013. Authorities closely monitor individuals’ online associations, as seen in the 2019 case where Jiang Kun was jailed for following ‘anti-Chinese forces’ on X.
This persistent cat-and-mouse game between dissenters and the authorities suggests an emerging set of shared values transcending China’s borders. Despite the Chinese government’s efforts to eradicate these ‘universal values,’ they persist among many Chinese. The Discord crackdown has sparked discussions on forums like Reddit, where users expressed hope for the safety of those detained and a future ‘where there is no darkness.’
The expanding net of China’s online censorship signifies an escalating crackdown on dissent where even followers of controversial figures are not safe. Despite the government’s relentless efforts, the persistence of shared values among Chinese citizens highlights the enduring spirit of those who strive for freedom and expression.
Source: Theguardian