As most people are aware, China has some of the most stringent, sophisticated, and complex digital censorship laws in the world. The government heavily restricts both publishers and consumers of online content, even limiting the news sources individuals are permitted to read while continually monitoring all online activity (including that of tourists).
Furthermore, the Chinese state is known to invest in sophisticated artificial intelligence systems to police and remove illicit online content. They also employ thousands of low-wage workers in “censorship factories,” whose sole responsibility is to scour the internet for forbidden content before censoring and removing it from public access.
If you’re contemplating a trip to China, whether for business or pleasure, this invasion of privacy and restriction of internet access may cause you concern, and understandably so. As a result, we’ve prepared this article that covers all of the fundamentals of using a VPN in China, including whether or not they are legal and if you will face punishment for using one.
The Great Firewall of China
The Great Firewall of China is a colloquial term used in reference to China’s ominous practice of censoring and monitoring the online activity of its citizens. These efforts are officially called the Golden Shield project, and its objective is to protect Chinese corporate and state secrets, as well as the country’s infrastructure against cyberattacks. As a result, the Great Firewall consists of a hybrid of legislative actions and technologies enforced by the state.
Whereas the internet has fostered a more open society in other areas of the world, allowing people to freely communicate information, thoughts, opinions, and ideas, China has embraced the ultra-authoritarian approach of tightly controlling all digital media that its population consumes.
How censorship works in China
To effectively regulate the internet and enforce its rigorous censorship regulations, the Chinese government employs a variety of methods to restrict users’ access to specific websites and online platforms. The first and most prevalent approach they use to accomplish this is IP blocking, which is primarily enforced by Chinese internet service providers (ISPs), all of which are state-owned.
The second approach to censoring is through DNS poisoning, which is a deceptive tactic commonly used by hackers to redirect a website or domain to third-party websites. In this instance, the Chinese government redirects users away from blocked content and onto “safe” government sites. Finally, the government employs a number of different strategies, such as keyword filtering, which entails tracking controversial online content and banning pages (and individual users) that do not adhere to the government’s stringent guidelines.
Can VPNs overcome the firewall?
To fully understand the scope of the Chinese firewall, let’s take a look at some of the websites that are banned in the country.
First off, just about every social media platform, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, Instagram, and LinkedIn, is censored. In addition, many of the world’s most popular news sources, such as the BBC, The Washington Post, Reuters, NBC, and The Guardian, are all blocked too. Even music streaming services such as Spotify, Soundcloud, and Tidal are censored, which means you won’t be able to access them unless you find a way to circumvent the restrictions.
The good news is that a high-quality VPN will help you regain access to these services and should have you browsing the web as normal, despite your physical geographic location. The VPN accomplishes this by creating a private, encrypted connection across a public network to remote servers. Since VPN servers are typically located outside of China, you should be able to interact with online content uninhibited. For example, if you are in Beijing but have installed a VPN to use in China with servers located in London, you will be able to access all of the websites, apps, and online content as if you were browsing from the UK. In other words, you have effectively overcome the Chinese firewall.
The legality of VPN use in China
The Chinese government has prohibited VPNs that have not been approved by the state (VPNs must give the government backdoor access). However, this regulation seems to be more applicable to businesses and large corporations than to individuals. As a result, the legality of utilizing a VPN in China is somewhat ambiguous. If you are a tourist to the country, you are pretty much free to use a VPN as you wish, though it is definitely a good idea to keep it secret if you do. When it comes to VPNs, the majority of the risk is assumed by the VPN suppliers themselves, as they have historically suffered the harshest punishments from officials.
Final word
If you wish to use the internet with even a similar level of functionality to what you can experience in the western world, you will almost certainly have to use a VPN while in China. As mentioned, the vast majority of non-Chinese websites are banned, which makes browsing the internet a difficult task, especially if you want to use social media or access the news. Furthermore, most people are uneasy with the government monitoring their online activity, making VPNs an absolute necessity if you want to retain your privacy when traveling there.
