How Censorship in China Allows Government Criticism but Silences Collective Expression

2013/05/01 by GARY KING, Gary King, JENNIFER PAN +3 · 1 voice · 484 citations
Social Sciences · #Action (physics) #Advertising #Business #Censorship #China #China's Socioeconomic Reforms and Governance #Collective action #Computer science #Criticism #Download #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Government (linguistics) #Internet privacy #Law #Law and economics #Media studies #Political science #Politics #Public relations #Social Media and Politics #Social media #Sociology #The Internet #World Wide Web

paper · open access · doi:10.1017/s0003055413000014

published in American Political Science Review 107(2), 326-343 (Cambridge University Press)

openalex publication_date 2013/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/02

Abstract

We offer the first large scale, multiple source analysis of the outcome of what may be the most extensive effort to selectively censor human expression ever implemented. To do this, we have devised a system to locate, download, and analyze the content of millions of social media posts originating from nearly 1,400 different social media services all over China before the Chinese government is able to find, evaluate, and censor (i.e., remove from the Internet) the subset they deem objectionable. Using modern computer-assisted text analytic methods that we adapt to and validate in the Chinese language, we compare the substantive content of posts censored to those not censored over time in each of 85 topic areas. Contrary to previous understandings, posts with negative, even vitriolic, criticism of the state, its leaders, and its policies are not more likely to be censored. Instead, we show that the censorship program is aimed at curtailing collective action by silencing comments that represent, reinforce, or spur social mobilization, regardless of content. Censorship is oriented toward attempting to forestall collective activities that are occurring now or may occur in the future—and, as such, seem to clearly expose government intent.

Citations

• Robust Estimation of a Location Parameter

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Discussions

• 中国で導入されている検閲プログラムの実態を調査した研究です。中国におけるSNSの投稿を当局がどのように選別し、削除しているのかデータを収集し、解析しています。その結果から、単に反体制的な投稿を規制しているのではなく、集団行動を抑制する狙いがあることが裏付けられています。 How Censorship in China Allows Government Criticism but Silence [bsky, 0 points, 1 comments]

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