Beijing authorities have initiated a clampdown on citizens utilising virtual private networks (VPNs), which enable users to evade the country's internet censorship apparatus by re-routing web traffic to servers elsewhere. The crackdown has been particularly harsh in recent months, with more than 100 VPN providers shut down, and many of those that remain under threat from government pressure forced to pay fines or face closure. Chinese internet users have grown used to being blocked from certain websites, such as Facebook and the New York Times, as a result of the "Great Firewall" restricting what information is accessible. Individual use of VPNs will be prohibited by the Chinese authorities from 1 February next year, according to Bloomberg.
Beijing authorities have initiated a clampdown on citizens utilising virtual private networks (VPNs), which enable users to evade the country's internet censorship apparatus by re-routing web traffic to servers elsewhere. The government has ordered three state telecommunications providers – China Unicom, China Mobile and China Telecom – to block access to VPNs. Chinese internet users have grown used to being blocked from certain websites, such as Facebook and the New York Times, as a result of the "Great Firewall" restricting what information is accessible. Individual use of VPNs will be prohibited by the Chinese authorities from 1 February next year, according to Bloomberg.