World Internet Conference Opens in Zhejiang, Criticized for Omnipresent Restrictions and Censorship

The CCP has constructed the Great Firewall, obstructing citizens from accessing truthful information from overseas. (Dajiyuan composite image)

[People News] The 2024 World Internet Conference opened on Wednesday (November 20) in Wuzhen, Zhejiang. CCP leader Xi Jinping delivered a video address, emphasizing that China would drive development through innovation and establish security as its baseline. But how do Chinese netizens view this?

Internet "Firewall Nation" Hosts Global Conference

According to Radio Free Asia, the World Internet Conference is a high-profile global internet event hosted by China, held annually in Wuzhen, Zhejiang, since 2014. However, some Chinese netizens have voiced differing opinions about the conference.

In an interview with Radio Free Asia on Thursday (November 21), a Zhejiang resident, Mr. Lu, remarked:
"China has spent years building the Great Firewall, leaving ordinary people unable to see the outside world. All the information available to us is filtered and censored. As a result, the Chinese people's perceptions are completely disconnected from the global reality. The CCP hosting a World Internet Conference is nothing more than an attempt to glorify itself."

Netizens Discuss Omnipresent Internet Censorship and Restrictions

Mr. Lu elaborated further, stating that users on CCP-controlled social media platforms like WeChat and Douyin cannot freely express themselves: "As soon as you say something that affects their political performance or highlights societal issues, your account is immediately banned. There's no freedom at all. Without freedom, how can there be internet innovation?"

Wuhan citizen journalist Fang Bin shared his personal experiences during an interview: "My biggest realization is that no matter whether it's on WeChat, Douyin, or Kuaishou, my live broadcasts and statements are frequently banned without cause. Particularly on my WeChat video channel, content ranging from literary works to everyday life recordings can be blocked at any moment without any legal justification."

A Three-Decade Construction of the CCP’s Internet Control System

Since officially connecting to the global internet in 1994, China has become the country with the largest number of internet users worldwide. However, this growth has been accompanied by an increasing number of internet management policies and regulations. According to official data, by 2023, the CCP had enacted and implemented over 150 internet-related laws and regulations, covering areas such as data security, personal information protection, and algorithm management.

Over the past decade, significant laws such as the Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law, and Personal Information Protection Law have been introduced, alongside regulations targeting specific areas, including the Provisions on the Administration of Algorithmic Recommendation for Internet Information Services and the Anti-Telecommunication and Online Fraud Law.

Commenting on the system, internet critic Mr. Chen bluntly stated that China’s network resembles more of a "local area network" than the global internet: "We don't call it the internet; we call it the domestic network. Platforms like Twitter and YouTube are completely inaccessible. China's internet is a closed system and not open to the world."

The "Great Firewall" and a Unique Internet Ecosystem

Since the internet became widespread in China, the CCP has gradually established a distinctive network management system, with the "Great Firewall" (GFW) being the most emblematic feature. Fully operational by 2010, the GFW has been officially justified as a tool to ensure internet security and stability. In reality, it serves as a barrier between Chinese netizens and the global internet, restricting access to external platforms and information.