The People's Republic of China has strict internet censorship, often referred to as the "Great Firewall," which blocks access to major Western social media platforms, news outlets, and even certain phrases and images. The Chinese government also regulates and edits foreign movies and TV shows for content that portrays China negatively. Despite these restrictions, some content surprisingly remains accessible, such as Wikipedia and George Orwell's "1984." Chinese citizens can bypass censorship using VPNs, but the government has created its own digital ecosystem to keep citizens within its controlled platforms. While dissidents use encrypted messaging and coded language to share information, many Chinese citizens are apathetic about internet censorship, prioritizing comfort over political awareness.
Here are the key facts extracted from the provided text:
1. Freedom House publishes an annual report on internet freedom, assessing 65 countries.
2. The People's Republic of China ranks last due to the Great Firewall, which restricts access to numerous websites, including Facebook, Twitter, and Google.
3. Websites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google, YouTube, Snapchat, Tumblr, Twitch, and Pinterest are blocked in China.
4. Other banned websites include the BBC, online gambling sites, Amazon, the New York Times, and Discord.
5. Pro-Democracy and anti-censorship sites are also restricted or made difficult to access.
6. Words, phrases, and images can be temporarily or permanently restricted.
7. Mentioning the Tiananmen Square Massacre of 1989 is prohibited, along with related terms like "Tank Man" and "4 June."
8. Movies and TV shows released in China must be vetted and potentially edited to fit propaganda rules and decency guidelines.
9. Contrary to popular belief, Winnie the Pooh is not banned in China, but internet searches were temporarily blocked in 2017.
10. The Chinese government aims to control and restrict information by providing alternative digital ecosystems, like WeChat, to keep citizens within their boundaries.
11. Chinese citizens who go abroad may be exposed to different viewpoints.
12. There is a supposed "Social Credit system," but it has not been implemented.
13. Dissidents use encrypted messaging apps and Amazon Web Servers to share banned content.
14. They employ coded language to confuse censors.
15. Some citizens are indifferent to censorship, either unaware of alternatives or believing it preserves national cohesion.
These are the factual points extracted from the text.