The Chinese government currently operates one of the most extensive and sophisticated Internet censorship programs worldwide. Large-scale censorship is enforced by the “Great Firewall,” which restricts citizens’ access to controversial foreign websites like Google, Twitter, and Facebook. On a more specific level, an estimated 50,000 government-hired Internet police monitor and delete sensitive content online content, while an additional 300,000 government employees post positive content aimed at supporting the Party line. For many, this sparks important questions: why does the government dedicate so many resources to controlling online discourse? How do CCP fears of social unrest motivate censorship? How does censorship differ by topic area and geographical location? Through an empirical study of Weibo, a Chinese equivalent of Twitter, this project aims to investigate the current state of Internet censorship in China, including government motives for censorship, Weibo’s most censored topics, and questions of censorship efficacy.
