Tracking Reveals Chinese Censorship Is Automated and Geotargeted

Due to censorship-tracking software developed by Harvard researcher Gary King, new conclusions can be made on how China’s social media censorship works. Here are the main points as elicited in MIT Technology Review:

Automation Is Huge

While censorship teams at Weibo may reach up to 1,000 people, the high volume and speed of censorship indicates that China’s model has many automated functions. Mass posts can reportedly be censored in a matter of minutes.

Censorship Is Geotargeted

King’s software has indicated in areas such as Tibet, that have seen more political opposition, posts with sensitive words are over four times more likely to be censored.

Government Participation Has Soared

According to Nele Noesselt, a researcher at the German Instute of Global and Area Studies in Hamburg, the government has begun taking a more proactive stance by channeling public interest instead of simply trying to battle it head on. This approach is much more popular with the public as it gives the government the appearance of prevalence and accountability while remaining positive.

Prevelancy of Censorship Can Predict Scandal

King has used his software to predict when either controversy is on the rise or mass arrests are to be made by tracking the number of censored posts in a certain area or about certain content. This new discovery has been recognized as a serious enough topic that he has been invited to speak with an undisclosed agency in Washington. Reportedly, after his talk, said agency has sought contractors to begin censorship-tracking.

 For more information on Chinese social media and which networks are what, read Chinese Social Media: What You Need to Know.