Editing Internet in China

{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{internet}}
{{Politics of China |expanded = Publicity }}
 
[[China]] has been on the [[Internet]] intermittently since May 1989 and on a permanent basis since 20 April 1994,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edu.cn/introduction_1378/20060323/t20060323_4285.shtml|title=中国教育和科研计算机网CERNET|website=Edu.cn|access-date=15 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527120608/http://www.edu.cn/introduction_1378/20060323/t20060323_4285.shtml|archive-date=27 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> although with heavily [[Internet censorship in China|censored]] access. In 2008, China became the country with the largest population on the Internet and, {{as of|2024|lc=y}}, has remained so.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Li |first=David Daokui |title=China's World View: Demystifying China to Prevent Global Conflict |date=2024 |publisher=[[W. W. Norton & Company]] |isbn=978-0393292398 |location=New York, NY |author-link=David Daokui Li}}</ref>{{Rp|page=18}} {{As of|2024|12|post=,}} 1.09 billion (77.5% of the country's total population) use '''internet in China'''.

China's first foray into the global cyberspace was an [[email]] (not TCP/IP based and thus technically not internet) sent on 20 September 1987 to the [[Karlsruhe Institute of Technology]], reading, "Across the [[Great Wall of China|Great Wall]], towards the rest of the world" ({{zh |s=越过长城，走向世界 |t=越過長城，走向世界 |p=Yuèguò chángchéng, zǒuxiàng shìjiè }}).<ref>{{cite web |url = http://big5.chinanews.com.cn:89/special/guoqing/60/2009/06-25/122.shtml |title = 中新網-共和國60週年大型專題策劃-中國接入網際網路 |access-date = 30 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101104447/http://big5.chinanews.com.cn:89/special/guoqing/60/2009/06-25/122.shtml |archive-date=1 January 2013  }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200801230406/http://news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2017/9/388707.shtm 中国E-mail：值而立之年却未老先衰]. 科技日报. 19 September 2017.</ref> This later became a well-known phrase in China and {{as of|2018|lc=y}}, was displayed on the desktop login screen for [[Tencent QQ|QQ]] mail.<ref name="guar1">{{cite news |title=The great firewall of China: Xi Jinping's internet shutdown |first1=Elizabeth C |last1=Economy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/jun/29/the-great-firewall-of-china-xi-jinpings-internet-shutdown |access-date=29 June 2018 |work=The Guardian |date=28 June 2018 |archive-date=10 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010172129/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/jun/29/the-great-firewall-of-china-xi-jinpings-internet-shutdown |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==
[[File:P1994-2011.gif|thumb|left|Internet penetration rates in China in the context of [[East Asia]] and [[Southeast Asia]], 1995–2012]]

From 1995 to 2004, internet use in China was almost entirely in urban areas.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Shi |first=Song |title=China and the Internet: Using New Media for Development and Social Change |date=2023 |publisher=[[Rutgers University Press]] |isbn=9781978834736 |location=New Brunswick, NJ}}</ref>{{Rp|page=3}} By 2003, less than 0.2% of rural people had used the internet.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=3}} In 2004, the [[Ministry of Industry and Information Technology]] began the Connecting Every Village Project which promoted the use of telecommunications and internet in rural China. Beginning in late 2009, the program began building rural telecenters each of which had at least one telephone, computer, and internet connectivity.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|pages=37–38}} Approximately 90,000 rural telecenters were built by 2011.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=38}} By 2011, 89% of administrative villages had internet access.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=3, 24}}

China replaced the U.S. in its global leadership in terms of installed telecommunication bandwidth in 2011. By 2014, China hosts more than twice as much national bandwidth potential than the U.S., the historical leader in terms of installed telecommunication bandwidth (China: 29% versus US: 13% of the global total).<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://escholarship.org/uc/item/2jp4w5rq|title=The bad news is that the digital access divide is here to stay: Domestically installed bandwidths among 172 countries for 1986–2014|first=Martin|last=Hilbert|date=1 June 2016|journal=Telecommunications Policy|volume=40|issue=6|pages=567–581|access-date=15 August 2018|doi=10.1016/j.telpol.2016.01.006|archive-date=4 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604191331/http://escholarship.org/uc/item/2jp4w5rq|url-status=live}}</ref>

China began implementing a National Broadband Strategy in 2013.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=90}} The program aimed to increase the speed, quality, and adoption of broadband and 4G networks.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=90}} As of 2018, 96% of administrative villages had fiber optic networks and 95% had 4G networks.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=90}}

Wireless, especially internet access through a mobile phone, has developed rapidly. The affordability of mobile phones and internet data in China has resulted in the number of mobile internet users in China surpassing the number of computer internet users.<ref name=":03">{{Cite book |last=Parzyan |first=Anahit |url= |title=China and Eurasian Powers in a Multipolar World Order 2.0: Security, Diplomacy, Economy and Cyberspace |date=2023 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |others=Mher Sahakyan |isbn=978-1-003-35258-7 |edition= |location=New York |pages= |chapter=China's Digital Silk Road: Empowering Capabilities for Digital Leadership in Eurasia |oclc=1353290533}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=178}} 500 million were accessing the internet via cell phones in 2013.<ref name="CNNIC33">{{cite web |title=第33次中国互联网络发展状况统计报告 |trans-title=33rd statistical report on Internet development in China |url=http://www.cnnic.cn/hlwfzyj/hlwxzbg/hlwtjbg/201401/t20140116_43820.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140119020216/http://www.cnnic.cn/hlwfzyj/hlwxzbg/hlwtjbg/201401/t20140116_43820.htm |archive-date=19 January 2014 |access-date=21 January 2014 |work=CNNIC}}</ref> The number of dial-up users peaked in 2004 and since then has decreased sharply.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} Generally statistics on the number of mobile internet users in China show a significant slump in the growth rate between 2008 and 2010, with a small peak in the next two years.<ref>[http://www.iresearchchina.com/views/3959.html China Mobile Internet Market] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304061006/http://www.iresearchchina.com/views/3959.html |date=4 March 2013 }}, China Internet Network Information Center, iResearch. February 2012.</ref>

In 2015, the [[State Council of the People's Republic of China|State Council]] promoted the [[Internet Plus]] initiative, a five-year plan to integrate traditional manufacturing and service industries with big data, cloud computing, and [[Internet of things]] technology.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=44}} The State Council provided support for Internet Plus through policy support in area including cross-border [[E-commerce in China|e-commerce]] and rural e-commerce.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=44}} Various regulatory bodies promoted Internet Plus within their sectors.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=44}}

In April 2020, the [[National Development and Reform Commission]] (NDRC) proposed that "satellite internet" should be a part of new national infrastructure.  By the next month, [[Shanghai]], [[Beijing]], [[Fuzhou]], [[Chongqing]], [[Chengdu]], and [[Shenzhen]] had each proposed regional action plans to support the new [[satellite internet constellation]] project<ref name=cmn20200917>{{cite news |title=Chinese Commercial Rocket Startup Space Pioneer Secures Series A |url=https://www.chinamoneynetwork.com/2020/09/17/chinese-commercial-rocket-startup-space-pioneer-secures-series-a |work=China Money Network |date=17 September 2020 |access-date=31 July 2021 |archive-date=20 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220061604/https://www.chinamoneynetwork.com/2020/09/17/chinese-commercial-rocket-startup-space-pioneer-secures-series-a |url-status=live }}</ref><!-- the refname sn20210727 source refers to it as "China's national Satellite Internet project"; unclear what is the best descriptive name to refer to it here in Wikipedia--> with a goal to provide domestic China satellite internet to rural areas.<ref name=sn20210727>{{cite news |title=Chinese rocket company Space Pioneer secures major funding ahead of first launch |url=https://spacenews.com/chinese-rocket-company-space-pioneer-secures-major-funding-ahead-of-first-launch/ |last=Jones |first=Andrew |work=[[SpaceNews]] |date=27 July 2021 |access-date=27 July 2021 |archive-date=27 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727183506/https://spacenews.com/chinese-rocket-company-space-pioneer-secures-major-funding-ahead-of-first-launch/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Beginning in 2019, US ([[SpaceX]] [[Starlink]])<ref name=sfn20191111>{{cite news |title=Successful launch continues deployment of SpaceX's Starlink network |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/11/11/successful-launch-continues-deployment-of-spacexs-starlink-network/ |work=Spaceflight Now |date=11 November 2019 |access-date=27 July 2021 |archive-date=17 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117160301/https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/11/11/successful-launch-continues-deployment-of-spacexs-starlink-network/|url-status=live}}</ref> and UK ([[OneWeb satellite constellation|OneWeb]], 2020)<ref name=cnn20200206>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/06/tech/oneweb-satellite-internet-launch-scn/index.html |date=February 6, 2020 |title=The race for space-based broadband: OneWeb launches 34 more internet satellites |last=Wattles |first=Jackie |website=CNN |access-date=2020-02-07 |archive-date=28 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828212454/https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/06/tech/oneweb-satellite-internet-launch-scn/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sn20200321">{{cite web|last1=Henry|first1=Caleb|date=21 March 2020|title=Soyuz launches 34 OneWeb satellites|url=https://spacenews.com/soyuz-launches-34-oneweb-satellites/|access-date=15 April 2020|website=spacenews.com|publisher=SpaceNews|archive-date=22 March 2020|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20200322121542/https://spacenews.com/soyuz-launches-34-oneweb-satellites/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- a half-dozen test sats were launched in 2019, before the OneWeb bankruptcy; but the main launches of operational sats began only in 2020 --> private companies had begun fielding large internet satellite constellations with global coverage; however China does not intend to [[Satellite landing rights|license]] non-Chinese technical solutions for satellite broadband within the [[nation state|jurisdiction]] of Chinese law.<ref name=cbc20200619>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/spacex-high-speed-internet-1.5618918 |title=Elon Musk's company SpaceX applies to offer high-speed Internet service to Canadians |work=[[CBC News]] |date=19 June 2020 |access-date=27 July 2021 |archive-date=17 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117160154/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/spacex-high-speed-internet-1.5618918 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Structure==
An important characteristic of the Chinese internet is that online access routes are owned by the Chinese government, and private enterprises and individuals can only rent bandwidth from the state.<ref name=dkh>{{cite journal|last=Herold|first=David Kurt|title=Escaping the World: A Chinese Perspective on Virtual Worlds|journal=Journal of Virtual Worlds Research|date=September 2012|volume=5|issue=2|doi=10.4101/jvwr.v5i2.6206|doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 |hdl=10397/5785 |url=https://journals.tdl.org/jvwr/article/view/6206/6040|access-date=27 November 2017|doi-access=free|archive-date=1 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801025828/https://journals.tdl.org/jvwr/index.php/jvwr/article/view/6206/6040|url-status=live|hdl-access=free}}</ref> The first four major national networks, namely [[CSTNET]], [[ChinaNet]], [[CERNET]] and CHINAGBN, are the "backbone" of the mainland Chinese internet. Later dominant [[Telecommunications industry in China|telecom providers]] also started to provide internet services. [[China Telecom]], [[China Unicom]], and [[China Mobile]] control operate the [[internet exchange point]]s through which incoming traffic must pass.<ref name=":Curtis&Klaus">{{Cite book |last1=Curtis |first1=Simon |title=The Belt and Road City: Geopolitics, Urbanization, and China's Search for a New International Order |last2=Klaus |first2=Ian |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |isbn=9780300266900 |location=New Haven and London |publication-date=2024}}</ref>{{Rp|page=74}}

In January 2015, China added seven new access points to the world's internet backbone, adding to the three points that connect through Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.<ref>{{cite web|title = 7个新增国家级互联网骨干直联点建设全面竣工|url = http://www.miit.gov.cn/n11293472/n11293832/n11293907/n11368223/16402896.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150121025150/http://www.miit.gov.cn/n11293472/n11293832/n11293907/n11368223/16402896.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 21 January 2015|website = www.miit.gov.cn|access-date = 28 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = China expands Internet backbone to improve speeds, reliability|url = http://www.itworld.com/article/2868215/china-expands-internet-backbone-to-improve-speeds-reliability.html|website = ITworld|date = 13 January 2015|access-date = 28 November 2015|archive-date = 8 December 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151208110239/http://www.itworld.com/article/2868215/china-expands-internet-backbone-to-improve-speeds-reliability.html|url-status = live}}</ref>

As of at least 2023, the internet in China is characterized by uneven development, with the adoption rate and availability of the internet varying by region and population groups.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|pages=5–7}}

==Userbase==
[[File:Chinesisches Internetcafe Lijiang.jpg|thumb|[[Internet café]] in [[Lijiang City]]]]
According to a survey by the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), China had 1.09 billion Internet users by the end of December 2023, a 1.9% increase over the year before and a penetration rate of 77.5%. The proportions of users accessing the Internet via mobile phones, desktop computers, laptop computers, TVs and tablet computers were 99.9%, 33.9%, 30.3%, 22.5% and 26.6%, respectively. 51.2% of internet users were male, while the remaining 48.8% were female.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 2024 |title=The 53rd Statistical Report on China's Internet Development |url=https://www.cnnic.com.cn/IDR/ReportDownloads/202405/P020240509518443205347.pdf |publisher=[[CNNIC]] |access-date=11 July 2024 |archive-date=11 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711193443/https://www.cnnic.com.cn/IDR/ReportDownloads/202405/P020240509518443205347.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

English-language media in China often use the word [[netizen]] to refer to Chinese internet users in particular.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |first=Brian |last=Fung |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/10/netizen-why-is-this-goofy-sounding-word-so-important-in-china/263245/ |title='Netizen': Why Is This Goofy-Sounding Word So Important in China? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116002158/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/10/netizen-why-is-this-goofy-sounding-word-so-important-in-china/263245/ |archive-date=November 16, 2017 |work=[[The Atlantic]] |date=11 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Schiavenza |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/china/archive/2013/09/enough-with-the-word-netizen/279969/ |title=Enough with the word 'Netizen' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729043129/https://www.theatlantic.com/china/archive/2013/09/enough-with-the-word-netizen/279969/ |archive-date=July 29, 2018 |work=[[The Atlantic]] |date=25 September 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

As of at least 2024, China has the largest number of internet users of any country.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=18}} Consistent with the trends of other large and relatively linguistically isolated countries, Chinese internet users tend to focus their internet use on content that is domestically relevant.<ref name=":Curtis&Klaus" />{{Rp|pages=74–75}}

As of 2024, 20% of internet users around the world are Chinese.<ref name=":Wang">{{Cite book |last=Wang |first=Frances Yaping |title=The Art of State Persuasion: China's Strategic Use of Media in Interstate Disputes |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2024 |isbn=9780197757512}}</ref>{{Rp|pages=|page=69}}

== Regulation ==
The [[Cyberspace Administration of China]] (CAC) is the primary agency for data regulation<ref name=":Zhang">{{Cite book |last=Zhang |first=Angela Huyue |title=High Wire: How China Regulates Big Tech and Governs Its Economy |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=2024 |isbn=9780197682258}}</ref>{{Rp|page=30}} and content regulation.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=P. Horsley |first=Jamie |date=August 8, 2022 |title=Behind the Facade of China's Cyber Super-Regulator |url=https://digichina.stanford.edu/work/behind-the-facade-of-chinas-cyber-super-regulator/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=DigiChina |publisher=[[Stanford University]] |language=en |archive-date=9 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909152619/https://digichina.stanford.edu/work/behind-the-facade-of-chinas-cyber-super-regulator/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It coordinates data regulation enforcement among relevant ministries, including the [[Ministry of Industry and Information Technology]] (MIIT) and the [[State Administration for Market Regulation]].<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=30}} The [[Ministry of Public Security (China)|Ministry of Public Security]] (MPS) has the primary responsibility for preventing cyberattacks.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=143}}

=== Regulatory priorities ===
In 2009, China amended its Criminal Law to create a low threshold for the prosecution of malicious cybercrimes and illegal data sales.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=131}}

Generally, China advocates for [[Network sovereignty|internet sovereignty]] and tends to prioritize cybersecurity more than personal data protection.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=121}} Chinese policymakers became increasingly concerned about the risk of cyberattacks following the [[2010s global surveillance disclosures]] by [[Edward Snowden]], which demonstrated extensive [[American espionage in China|United States intelligence activities in China]].<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=129}} As part of its response, the [[Chinese Communist Party|Communist Party]] in 2014 formed the Cybersecurity and Information [[Leading Small Group|Leading Group]].<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=|pages=129, 250}}

The 2017 [[Cybersecurity Law of the People's Republic of China|Cyber Security Law]] was also part of China's response to increased risks of foreign surveillance and foreign data collection following the United States surveillance disclosures.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=250}} Among other provisions, the law has significant [[data localization]] requirements.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=250}} It is a major pillar of the Chinese data regulatory environment.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=131}}

Before the [[2020–2021 Xi Jinping Administration reform spree|2020-2021 Xi Jinping administration reform spree]], the regulatory environment for internet companies was relatively lax because the government sought to encourage the development of the [[big data]] economy.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=121}} The regulatory environment for tech companies subsequently became stricter and in 2021, two national data laws and a host of regulatory guidelines were promulgated, broadening the scope of government enforcement and increasing the penalties for personal data violations.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=122}} After mid-2023, the government decreased its regulatory intervention in e-commerce and issued policies more supportive of the e-commerce sector.<ref name=":Liu">{{Cite book |last=Liu |first=Lizhi |title=From Click to Boom: The Political Economy of E-Commerce in China |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]] |year=2024 |isbn=9780691254104}}</ref>{{Rp|page=17}}

The 2021 [[Data Security Law of the People's Republic of China|Data Security Law]] classifies data into different categories and establishes corresponding levels of protection.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=131}} It imposes significant data localization requirements, in a response to the extraterritorial reach of the United States [[CLOUD Act]] or similar foreign laws.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|pages=250–251}}

The 2021 [[Personal Information Protection Law of the People's Republic of China|Personal Information Protection Law]] is China's first comprehensive law on personal data rights and is modeled after the European Union's [[General Data Protection Regulation]].<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=131}}

In summer 2021, MIIT began a six-month long regulatory campaign to address a variety of consumer protection and unfair competition issues, including [[interoperability]] concerns, in the consumer internet sector.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=114}} It held meetings with executives from major Chinese tech companies and instructed them that their companies could no longer block external links to competitors.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=114}}

In 2022, the CAC issued measures and guidelines on security assessments for cross-border data transfers as part of an effort to institutionalize data transfer review mechanisms.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=251}}

In July 2024, the CAC and the MPS released draft regulations that propose a voluntary digital ID number for all internet users nationwide instead of the current requirement for a phone number or personal ID number.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Olcott |first1=Eleanor |last2=Ding |first2=Wenjie |date=July 31, 2024 |title=China data watchdog plans tighter control of internet users |url=https://www.ft.com/content/63f2e491-e015-4cae-bb35-f4c447c595f1 |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 31, 2024 |work=[[Financial Times]] |archive-date=7 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807192258/https://www.ft.com/content/63f2e491-e015-4cae-bb35-f4c447c595f1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Regulations regarding minors ===
As a result of public outcry over parent-child online gaming conflicts, the government issued legislation in the early 2000s.<ref name="Bao">{{Cite book |last=Rao |first=Yichen |title=Games & Play in Chinese & Sinophone Cultures |date=2024 |publisher=[[University of Washington Press]] |isbn=9780295752402 |editor-last=Guo |editor-first=Li |location=Seattle, WA |pages= |chapter=How China's Young "Internet Addicts" Gamify the Disciplinary Treatment Camp |editor-last2=Eyman |editor-first2=Douglas |editor-last3=Sun |editor-first3=Hongmei}}</ref>{{Rp|page=175}} In 2002, the government passed legislation which forbid [[Internet café|Internet cafes]] from allowing minors.<ref name="Bao" />{{Rp|page=175}} The Law on Protection of Minors was amended in 2006 to state that the family and the state should guide minors' online behavior.<ref name="Bao" />{{Rp|page=175}} These amendments place "indulgence in the Internet" on par with misbehaviors like smoking and vagrancy.<ref name="Bao" />{{Rp|page=175}}

In 2009, the government requested that to aid parents in monitoring what children were doing on the Internet, "Green Dam Youth Escort" software be pre-installed on personal computers sold in most parts of China (excluding [[Special administrative regions of China|Special Administrative Regions]]).<ref name="Bao" />{{Rp|page=|pages=175–176}} This resulted in public criticism on the basis of privacy concerns, and the government abandoned the effort after several months.<ref name="Bao" />{{Rp|page=176}}

The state requires online games to set limits for minors' playing time.<ref name="Bao" />{{Rp|page=175}}

==Content==
According to [[Kaiser Kuo]], the internet in China is largely used for entertainment purposes, being referred to as the "entertainment superhighway". However, it also serves as the first public forum for Chinese citizens to freely exchange their ideas.<ref>Kaiser Kuo, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-jqGmc6xKI TEDxHonolulu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702083011/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-jqGmc6xKI |date=2 July 2016 }} Technology, Entertainment and Design Conference, 5 November 2009</ref> Most users go online to read news, to search for information, and to check their email. They also go to [[Bulletin board system|BBS]] or web forums, find music or videos, or download files.

=== Messaging ===
As of at least 2023, the most used internet services in China are [[instant messaging]] and mobile messaging apps.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=8}} In 2020, 99% of internet users in China used instant messaging, while 99.8% used mobile messaging apps.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=8}}

As of 2019, 93.5% of Chinese internet users have used [[WeChat]].<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=76}}

===Websites===
All websites that operate in China with their own domain name must have an [[ICP license]] from the [[Ministry of Industry and Information Technology]]. Because the PRC government blocks many foreign websites, many homegrown copycats of foreign websites have appeared.<ref>Goldkorn, Jeremy. "[http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/152/behind-the-great-firewall-of-china.html YouTube = Youku? Websites and Their Chinese Equivalents] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412180903/http://www.fastcompany.com//magazine//152//behind-the-great-firewall-of-china.html |date=12 April 2011 }}." ''[[Fast Company (magazine)|Fast Company]]''. 20 January 2011. Retrieved on 5 May 2011.</ref>

===Search engines===
{| class = "wikitable" style = "float:right; font-size:85%; margin-left:15px; width:30%"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
|+ Top ten most popular search sites in China<br/><small>As of 17 September 2013 </small><br/><small>By Unique visitors aged 15+, excludes traffic from public computers such as internet cafes or mobile phones</small><br/><small>Source: comScore qSearch</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chinainternetwatch.com/3809/china-search-engine-market-share-update-august-2013/|title=Baidu Search Share Down While Qihoo 360 Up in August 2013|date=17 September 2013|website=Chinainternetwatch.com|access-date=15 August 2018|archive-date=28 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828025605/https://www.chinainternetwatch.com/3809/china-search-engine-market-share-update-august-2013/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tech.sina.com.cn/i/2013-07-05/14558511980.shtml|title=谷歌中国搜索市场份额仅2%：排名滑落至第五|website=Tech.sina.com.cn|access-date=15 August 2018|archive-date=17 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517010041/http://tech.sina.com.cn/i/2013-07-05/14558511980.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>
! China !! Share of searches (%)
|-
| [[Baidu]] || 63.16
|-
| 360 || 18.23
|-
| [[Sogou]] || 10.35
|-
| [[Soso (search engine)|Soso]]|| 3.62
|-
| [[Google]]|| 2.88
|-
| [[Bing (search engine)|Bing]]|| 0.57
|-
| [[Yahoo]]|| 0.48
|-
| [[Youdao]] || 0.16
|-
| other|| 0.09
|}

[[Baidu]] is the leading search engine in China, while most web portals also provide search opportunities like [[Bing Search|Bing]] and [[Sogou]].{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

Efforts to establish state-owned search engines in China have not succeeded.<ref name=":Liu" />{{Rp|page=43}} Search engine ChinaSo.com, jointly managed by [[Xinhua News Agency]] and ''[[People's Daily]]'', is active as of 2024 but has few users.<ref name=":Liu" />{{Rp|page=43}} State-run search engine Jike Search, the CEO of which was [[Deng Yaping]], failed in 2013.<ref name=":Liu" />{{Rp|page=43}}

===Online communities===
Although the Chinese write fewer emails,{{clarify|compared to what?|date=July 2021}} they enjoy other online communication tools. Users form their communities based on different interests. Bulletin boards on portals or elsewhere, chat rooms, instant messaging groups, blogs are very active, while photo-sharing and social networking sites are growing rapidly. Some Wikis such as the [[Sogou Baike]] and [[Baidu Baike]] are "flourishing".

[[Microblogging|Microblogs]] (''weibo'') have since 2009 become one of the most widely used internet services in China.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=146}}

===Social media===
China is one of the most restricted countries in the world in terms of internet, but these constraints have directly contributed to the success of local Chinese social media sites.<ref>{{cite web |title=How web-connected is China? |url=http://chinapower.csis.org/web-connectedness/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926031804/https://chinapower.csis.org/web-connectedness/ |archive-date=26 September 2017 |access-date=12 July 2016 |publisher=ChinaPowerCSIS}}</ref>

===Online shopping===
Since 2013, China is the world's largest e-commerce market.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=99}} Its domestic e-commerce market was an estimated {{USD|899 billion}} in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |last=Millward |first=Steven |date=18 August 2016 |title=Asia's ecommerce spending to hit record $1 trillion this year – but most of that is China |url=https://www.techinasia.com/asia-ecommerce-spending-1-trillion-dollars-2016 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819043228/https://www.techinasia.com/asia-ecommerce-spending-1-trillion-dollars-2016 |archive-date=19 August 2016 |access-date=4 May 2021 |work=[[Tech in Asia]]}}</ref> China accounted for 42.4% of worldwide retail e-commerce in that year, the most of any country.<ref name="Hu-20232">{{Cite book |last=Hu |first=Richard |title=Reinventing the Chinese City |date=2023 |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |isbn=978-0-231-21101-7 |location=New York}}</ref>{{Rp|page=110}}In 2019, online retail sales were 21% of China's total retail sales.<ref name=":Liu" />{{Rp|page=4}} As of late 2022, approximately 850 million Chinese individuals shop online and sectors related to e-commerce employ 69 million people in the country.<ref name=":Liu" />{{Rp|page=1}} In 2023, nearly 50% of worldwide online sales took place from China.<ref name=":Liu" />{{Rp|page=2}}

Some local governments have created e-commerce platforms in an effort to facilitate sales of local products.<ref name=":Liu" />{{Rp|page=43}} With the exception of the [[business-to-business]] platform Yiwugo.com (created by the [[Yiwu]] city government and a state-owned enterprise), these platforms have not been commercially successful.<ref name=":Liu" />{{Rp|page=43}}

===Online Mapping Services===
China has endeavored to offer a number of online mapping services and allows the dissemination of geographic information within the country. [[Tencent Maps]] (腾讯地图), [[Baidu Maps]] (百度地圖) and [[Tianditu|Tianditu (天地圖)]] are typical examples. Online mapping services can be understood as online cartography backed up by a [[geographic information system]] (GIS). GIS was originally a tool for cartographers, geographers and other types of specialists to store, manage, present and analyze spatial data. In bringing GIS online, the Web has made these tools available to a much wider audience.<ref>Tulloch, D. L. (2007) [http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/1620/1535 ‘Many, Many Maps: Empowerment and Online Participatory Mapping’] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123185000/http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/1620/1535 |date=23 November 2012 }}, First Monday 12 (2)</ref> Furthermore, with the advent of broadband, utilizing GIS has become much faster and easier. Increasingly, non-specialist members of the public can access, look up and make use of geographic information for their own purposes.<ref>Chen, Yu-Wen (2010) Drawing Borders Alters Our World. Taipei Times, 19 December, [http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2010/12/19/2003491313] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215627/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2010/12/19/2003491313|date=4 October 2013}}</ref> [[Tianditu]] is China's first online mapping service. Literally World Map, [[Tianditu]] was launched in late October 2010. The Chinese government has repeatedly claimed{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} that this service is to offer comprehensive geographical data for Chinese users to learn more about the world.

=== Online payment ===
The method of directly paying by online banking is required to be able to make online banking payment after opening online banking and can realize [[Mobile payments in China|online payment]] of UnionPay, [[WeChat Pay]], online payment by credit card, and so on.

This payment method is directly paid from the bank card. The third-party payment itself integrates multiple payment methods, and the process is as follows:{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

1. Recharge the money in online banking to a third-party.

2. Pay by third-party deposit when the user pays.

3. The fee is charged for withdrawal. Third-party payment methods are diverse, including mobile payments and fixed-line payments.

In 2013, [[Alipay]] overtook PayPal to become the world's largest mobile payment provider.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=150}} As of January 2015, Alipay, owned by Alibaba Group has 600 million counts of users and has the largest user group among all online-payment providers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.china.com.cn/live/2015-02/27/content_31531594.htm|title=支付宝钱包活跃用户超6亿_新闻中心_中国网|website=News.china.com.cn|access-date=15 August 2018|archive-date=8 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808112651/http://news.china.com.cn/live/2015-02/27/content_31531594.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> It continues to be China's largest online payment service as of at least 2023.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=150}} WeChat Pay remains a strong competitor to Alipay, with 37% of the Chinese mobile payment market as of 2016.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=151}}

By June 2020, there were 805 million users of mobile payment in China.<ref name=":04">{{Cite book |last=Lin |first=Shuanglin |title=China's Public Finance: Reforms, Challenges, and Options |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |year=2022 |isbn=978-1-009-09902-8 |edition= |location=New York, NY}}</ref>{{Rp|page=202}}

By June 2024, about 954 million individuals were actively using mobile payment in China.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Consulting |first=Daxue |date=2024-12-30 |title=Mobile payments in China: How China became a cashless society |url=https://daxueconsulting.com/payment-methods-in-china/ |access-date=2025-01-29 |website=Daxue Consulting - Market Research and Consulting China |language=en-US}}</ref> 

===Online gaming===
{{main|Online gaming in China}}
As of 2022, China is the second largest market for online games after the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top countries and markets by video game revenues |url=https://newzoo.com/resources/rankings/top-10-countries-by-game-revenues |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326135814/https://newzoo.com/resources/rankings/top-10-countries-by-game-revenues |archive-date=2023-03-26 |access-date=6 October 2023 |website=Newzoo}}</ref> In 2023, the country has 668 million internet users playing online games and the industry was worth US$42 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Feng |first1=Coco |last2=Deng |first2=Iris |date=13 January 2024 |title=China's video gaming market ended 2023 battered and bruised, but can world-beating titles and innovation save the day? |url=https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3248249/chinas-video-gaming-market-ended-2023-battered-and-bruised-can-world-beating-titles-and-innovation |access-date=11 July 2024 |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |archive-date=11 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711195228/https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3248249/chinas-video-gaming-market-ended-2023-battered-and-bruised-can-world-beating-titles-and-innovation |url-status=live }}</ref> 53.8% of gamers are male, 46.2% are female.<ref>{{cite web |author=Steven Millward |date=30 April 2024 |title=The Future of Female Gaming in China [Top Market Trends] |url=https://sekkeidigitalgroup.com/the-future-of-female-gaming-in-china |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=11 July 2024 |work=Sekkei Digital Group}}</ref>

In 2007, the Ministry of Culture (MoC) and General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP) along with several other agencies implemented the Online Game Anti-Addiction System which aimed to stop video game addiction in youth. This system restricted minors from playing more than 3 hours a day and required Identification (ID) checking in order to verify you are of age.<ref>Zhan, Jing Da; Chan, Hock Chuan (April 2012)''. [https://aisel.aisnet.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3655&context=cais "Government Regulation of Online Game Addiction".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428080626/https://aisel.aisnet.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3655&context=cais |date=28 April 2019 }}''Communications of the Association for Information Systems. '''30''' (13): 187–198. [[Doi (identifier)|doi]]:10.17705/1CAIS.03013. Retrieved October 20, 2021.</ref>

Later in 2019, the Chinese government announced in November that gamers under the age of 18 would be banned from playing video games between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. In addition, gamers under 18 would be restricted to 90 minutes of playing during the weekdays and 3 hours of playing during weekends and holidays as per new guidelines.<ref>BBC. (2019, November 6). ''[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50315960 Video game addiction: China imposes gaming curfew for minors.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230803043510/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50315960 |date=3 August 2023 }}'' BBC News. Retrieved October 20, 2021.</ref>

As of 2021, the National Press and Publication Administration (NPPA) further restricted rules limiting playtime for under-18s to one hour per day from 8p.m. to 9 p.m. and only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.<ref>Goh, B. (2021, August 31). ''[https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-rolls-out-new-rules-minors-online-gaming-xinhua-2021-08-30/ Three hours a week: Play time's over for China's Young Video gamers.]'' Reuters. Retrieved October 19, 2021.</ref>

===Censorship===
{{Main|Internet censorship in China|Internet censorship}}

The [[Golden Shield Project]] was proposed to the State Council by Premier Zhu Rongji in 1993. It is overseen by the Ministry of Public Security.<ref name=":Zhang" />{{Rp|page=143}} As a massive surveillance and content control system, it was launched in November 2000, and became known as the [[Internet censorship in China|Great Firewall of China]]. The governmental authorities not only block website content but also monitor the Internet access of individuals; such measures have attracted the nickname [[Great Firewall|The Great Firewall of China]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://phys.org/news/2005-09-china-yahoo-youve.html|title=The China Yahoo! welcome: You've got Jail!|access-date=1 August 2017|archive-date=10 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110160834/http://phys.org/news/2005-09-china-yahoo-youve.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

However, there are some methods of circumventing the censorship by using proxy servers outside the firewall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/2006/china0806/3.htm|title="Race to the Bottom": Corporate Complicity in Chinese Internet Censorship: II. How Censorship Works in China: A Brief Overview|website=Hrw.org|access-date=1 August 2017|archive-date=22 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422063645/http://www.hrw.org/reports/2006/china0806/3.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Users may circumvent all of the censorship and monitoring of the Great Firewall if they have a secure [[VPN]] or [[Secure Shell|SSH]] connection method to a computer outside mainland China.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/dec/14/china-tightens-great-firewall-internet-control|title=China tightens 'Great Firewall' internet control with new technology|last=Arthur|first=Charles|date=14 December 2012|work=The Guardian|access-date=1 August 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=22 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422011808/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2012/dec/14/china-tightens-great-firewall-internet-control|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, the Chinese government declared unauthorized VPN services illegal, requiring VPN providers to obtain state approval.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ye |first=Josh |date=January 2017 |title=China tightens Great Firewall by declaring unauthorized VPN services illegal |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2064587/chinas-move-clean-vpns-and-strengthen-great-firewall |access-date=April 21, 2021 |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |archive-date=24 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424082112/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/2064587/chinas-move-clean-vpns-and-strengthen-great-firewall |url-status=live }}</ref> Although China restricts VPNs, they remain widely used by private individuals.<ref name=":9222">{{Cite book |last=Šebok |first=Filip |title=Contemporary China: a New Superpower? |publisher=[[Routledge]] |year=2023 |isbn=978-1-03-239508-1 |editor-last=Kironska |editor-first=Kristina |chapter=Social Control and Propaganda |pages=99–113 |doi=10.4324/9781003350064-11 |editor-last2=Turscanyi |editor-first2=Richard Q.}}</ref>{{Rp|page=109}} [[State-owned enterprises of China|State-owned enterprises]] or state institutions also use VPNs for official work.<ref name=":9222" />{{Rp|page=109}} The Chinese government has authorized several official VPN providers.<ref name=":9222" />{{Rp|page=109}} Those who develop or sell their own VPNs potentially face years in prison.<ref name=":9222" />{{Rp|page=109}}

Different methods are used to block certain websites or pages including [[DNS poisoning]], blocking access to [[IP address|IP]]s, analyzing and [[URL|filtering URLs]], inspecting filter packets and resetting connections.<ref name="howto">{{cite web |last1=Hoffman |first1=Chris |title=How the "Great Firewall of China" Works to Censor China's Internet |url=https://www.howtogeek.com/162092/htg-explains-how-the-great-firewall-of-china-works/ |website=Howtogeek.com |date=22 September 2016 |access-date=15 August 2018 |archive-date=15 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815131540/https://www.howtogeek.com/162092/htg-explains-how-the-great-firewall-of-china-works/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2009, motivated in part by its desire to prevent [[Colour revolution|color revolutions]], China banned Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.<ref name=":Li">{{Cite book |last=Li |first=Hongshan |title=Fighting on the Cultural Front: U.S.-China Relations in the Cold War |date=2024 |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |isbn=9780231207058 |location=New York, NY |pages=332 |doi=10.7312/li--20704 |jstor=10.7312/li--20704}}</ref> It banned Google the next year.<ref name=":Li" /> By blocking major international internet platforms such as Google, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, the Great Firewall has contributed to the development of domestic alternatives including [[Baidu]], [[Renren]], [[Youku]], and Weibo.<ref name=":1" />{{Rp|page=8}}

===Memes===
The [[Baidu 10 Mythical Creatures]], initially a humorous [[hoax]], became a popular and widespread [[internet meme]] in China.<ref>[http://hi.baidu.com/xueliang/blog/item/38d5f60379333d703812bb6f.html 【贴图】百度十大神兽_水能载舟亦能煮粥] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223004113/http://hi.baidu.com/xueliang/blog/item/38d5f60379333d703812bb6f.html |date=23 February 2009 }}. Hi.baidu.com. Retrieved on 16 April 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.danwei.org/humor/baidu_baike_fake_entries.php Hoax dictionary entries about legendary obscene beasts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212184001/http://www.danwei.org/humor/baidu_baike_fake_entries.php |date=12 February 2009 }}. Danwei.org. Retrieved on 16 April 2012.</ref> These ten hoaxes reportedly originated in response to increasing online censorship and have become an icon of Chinese internet users' resistance to it.<ref name=pun>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/world/asia/12beast.html?em|work=New York Times|first=Michael|last=Wines|title=A Dirty Pun Tweaks China's Online Censors|date=11 March 2009|access-date=12 March 2009|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005134536/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/12/world/asia/12beast.html?em|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Bobbie Johnson, [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2009/mar/13/china-grass-mud-horse ETech: The truth about China and its filthy puns] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510163632/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2009/mar/13/china-grass-mud-horse |date=10 May 2017 }}, The Guardian, 13 March 2009</ref>

The [[State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television]] issued a directive on 30 March 2009 to highlight 31 categories of content prohibited online, including violence, pornography and content which may "incite ethnic discrimination or undermine social stability". Many Chinese internet users believe the instruction follows the official embarrassment over the "[[Grass Mud Horse]]" and the "[[River crab (Internet slang)|River Crab]]". Industry observers believe that the move was designed to stop the spread of parodies or other comments on politically sensitive issues in the runup to the anniversary of the [[Tiananmen Square protests of 1989|4 June Tiananmen Square protests]].<ref name=parody>{{cite news|author=Vivian Wu|title=Censors strike at internet content after parody hit |work=South China Morning Post |date=3 April 2009}}</ref>

==Internet advertising market==
The size of China's online advertising market was RMB 3.3 billion in the third quarter 2008, up 19.1% compared with the previous quarter. [[Tencent]], [[Baidu.com]] Inc, [[Sina Corp]] remain the Top 3 in terms of [[market share]]. Keyword advertising market size reached RMB 1.46 billion, accounting for 43.8% of the total Internet advertising market with a quarter-on-quarter growth rate of 19.3%, while that of the online advertising site amounted to RMB 1.70 billion, accounting for 50.7% of the total, up 18.9% compared with the second quarter.<ref name="alibaba">[http://news.alibaba.com/article/detail/business-in-china/100020927-1-china%2527s-internet-advertising-market-hits.html China's Internet advertising market hits RMB 3.34 bln in Q3] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707110626/http://news.alibaba.com/article/detail/business-in-china/100020927-1-china%27s-internet-advertising-market-hits.html |date=7 July 2011 }}. News.alibaba.com. Retrieved on 16 April 2012.</ref>

Currently, Baidu has launched the [[CPA platform]], and Sina Corp has launched an advertising scheme for intelligent investment. The moves indicate a market trend of effective advertising with low cost. Online advertisements of automobiles, real estate and finance will keep growing rapidly in the future.<ref name="alibaba" />

==See also==
{{Portal|China|Internet}}
* [[China Internet Project]]
* [[E-commerce in China]]
* [[Golden projects]]
* [[Great Cannon]]
* [[Human flesh search engine]] (HFSE)
* [[List of Internet phenomena in China]]
* [[Chinese Internet slang|List of Internet slang in China]]
* [[Media of China]]
* [[Telecommunications in China]]
** [[Telecommunications industry in China]]
*[[Satellite internet]]
* [[China Internet Civilization Conference]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Clear}}
{{Censorship}}
{{Telecommunications in China}}
{{Telecommunications}}
{{Asia topic|Internet in}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Internet in China}}
[[Category:Internet in China| ]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 1994]]