This article examines China’s approach to Internet governance, focusing on its advanced tools for digital suppression. Beijing employs a combination of legal, technical, and operational methods to create an efficient real-time censorship system, enabling propaganda, disinformation, and extensive data collection. The publication aims to draw lessons from history to help democracies enhance their strategies and safeguard liberal values while protecting the rights of Internet users.
Key thinking points for leaders:
- Know your history: A deep dive into the history of the Internet in general and in China.
- The impact of big players (Cisco, Apple, etc.) on working with China.
- Privacy, freedom, and technology consideration.
The full article (53 pages PDF) file is available for download from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, covering related topics like social media, smart cities and IoT, Ethics, surveillance, and more.
