For any foreign social media and internet companies, such as Twitter/X, Facebook, and Google, to operate inside China, you must agree to be part of the Orwellian surveillance system to monitor, control, intimidate and spy on all Chinese people on behalf of the Chinese communist government, essentially be complicit in brutal repression of freedoms. Otherwise, you will be blocked by the CCP's Great Fire Wall.
Absolute compliance with the following conditions is required if any such foreign company wants to operate inside China:
Data Localization: Foreign companies must store data generated in China on servers within the country. This regulation ensures that the Chinese government can access this data whenever necessary, under the pretext of national security and law enforcement.
Content Censorship: Platforms are required to censor content that the government deems politically sensitive or harmful to societal harmony. This includes topics related to Tibet, Taiwan independence, the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, criticism of the Communist Party, and any content that might incite social unrest or challenge the government’s policies.
Surveillance and Monitoring: Companies must provide the Chinese government with the ability to access and monitor user data and communications. This is justified by the government as a measure for maintaining public security and monitoring illegal activities.
Real Name Registration: Users must register with their real names and identification details, linking their online activities directly to their personal identities. This discourages anonymity online and makes it easier for authorities to track and manage individuals expressing dissenting views.
Government Partnership and Localization Requirement: Foreign social media companies often need to form joint ventures with local Chinese firms to operate in China. This partnership typically requires transferring technology and intellectual property to the local entity and sometimes even involving Party cells within company structures.
Compliance with Local Laws and Regulations: Platforms must strictly comply with a complex and frequently changing array of local laws, regulations, and administrative measures. This compliance often requires significant modifications to business models and operations to align with Chinese legal standards.
Rapid Response to Takedown Requests: Platforms must be capable of quickly responding to government requests to remove certain content, sometimes within very tight deadlines.