Dear readers—
The broad strokes of censorship in China are common knowledge. Everyone understands that, online, Chinese people can’t speak freely, Hollywood films released in China may be altered for the local audience, and political activism is essentially not allowed. But the exact rules of what constitutes a ban aren’t clear and they seem to be getting stricter.
(Earlier last month, Quartz was notified that our iOS app and qz.com were blocked in mainland China, at the direction of the Chinese government. Our coverage of the ongoing protests in Hong Kong may be the reason.)
In two recently published episodes of Because China, our series about how China is reshaping the world, we dive deep into Chinese censorship and its global impact. We found that China’s censorship machine extends far beyond its borders. People and brands outside of mainland China are routinely self-censoring what they say and post or risk losing access to China’s huge and still growing consumer market. And we explore how WeChat, the Chinese social media giant, has developed a huge global footprint via the Chinese diaspora, and how the app extends Beijing’s censorship in more direct ways. The result is that Chinese censorship is affecting everyone, including you.
With a Quartz membership you’ll unlock every episode of Because China. Membership will also give you access to our in-depth field guides like China’s Africa Project and electric vehicles. Use code BECAUSECHINA at checkout for 50% off the first year of your membership.
Cheers,
Erica Rallo
Community Manager