The Great Firewall refers to the extensive system of internet censorship and surveillance employed by the Chinese government to regulate and restrict access to foreign websites and online content. Officially known as the Golden Shield Project, it is designed to prevent access to information deemed sensitive or harmful to the state, including political dissent, human rights issues, and specific foreign media. The Great Firewall employs various methods, such as IP blocking, DNS tampering, and deep packet inspection, to control internet traffic. It significantly impacts the online experience of users in China, leading to a controlled digital environment where popular global platforms like Google, Facebook, and Twitter are typically inaccessible. The term has also become shorthand for discussions about internet freedom, privacy, and governmental control over digital spaces.
China’s internet landscape is characterized by massive scale, state-controlled infrastructure, and strict governance. With over a billion users online, China hosts the world’s largest internet community, but this access comes with significant restrictions and a parallel digital ecosystem separate from the global internet. Below is an overview of key aspects of internet access in China,…
Read more
