Development of China's Internet Controls and Censorship (1994–2015)

1. China achieves full-function Internet connection

   Jan 1, 1994Labels: Internet Connection, China

   • CAS CNIC

2. State Council issues rules for international network links

   Feb 1, 1996Labels: State Council, International Links

   • DigiChina
   • Stanford WiLmap

3. “Great Firewall” term appears in print

   Jan 1, 1997Labels: Great Firewall, Phrase

   • Great Firewall

4. Public security rules restrict online content categories

   Dec 30, 1997Labels: Ministry of, Decree 33

   • DigiChina
   • Lehman Law

5. Golden Shield Project begins as a major control program

   Jan 1, 1998Labels: Golden Shield, Ministry of

   • Golden Shield

6. State Council regulates internet information services

   Sep 25, 2000Labels: State Council, Decree 292

   • CECC
   • DigiChina

7. Industry “self-discipline” pledge institutionalizes platform responsibility

   Jan 1, 2002Labels: Internet Society, Public Pledge

   • Self Discipline

8. Golden Shield begins operations alongside broader filtering

   Nov 1, 2003Labels: Golden Shield, Filtering Systems

   • Golden Shield
   • Great Firewall

9. Wikipedia is first blocked in mainland China

   Jun 3, 2004Labels: Wikipedia, Website Block

   • Ars Technica
   • Chinese Wikipedia

10. Internet news service rules tighten control over online journalism

    Sep 25, 2005Labels: Internet News, Regulation

    • SEC Filing

11. YouTube is blocked across mainland China

    Mar 25, 2009Labels: YouTube, Platform Block

    • CPJ
    • Guardian

12. Twitter is blocked ahead of Tiananmen anniversary

    Jun 2, 2009Labels: Twitter, Platform Block

    • Guardian
    • PCWorld

13. Green Dam plan signals push for device-level filtering

    Jul 1, 2009Labels: Green Dam, Client Filtering

    • Green Dam

14. Xinjiang unrest leads to severe regional communications blackout

    Jul 5, 2009Labels: Xinjiang, Communications Blackout

    • r mqi riots

15. State Internet Information Office is established

    May 5, 2011Labels: State Internet, SIIO

    • CAC

16. Beijing introduces real-name rules for microblog posting

    Dec 16, 2011Labels: Real-name Rules, Beijing

    • CNBC
    • China Daily

17. SIIO is rebranded as the Cyberspace Administration of China

    Feb 1, 2014Labels: Cyberspace Administration, CAC

    • CAC

18. World Internet Conference showcases China’s governance model

    Nov 19, 2014Labels: World Internet, Wuzhen

    • WIC Chronicle
    • DigWatch

19. Wikipedia is broadly blocked again as HTTPS use expands

    May 19, 2015Labels: Wikipedia, HTTPS Impact

    • Chinese Wikipedia