How does the Chinese government's internet censorship system work?

The Chinese government employs a sophisticated internet censorship system known as the Great Firewall. This system, developed under the Golden Shield Project, uses a combination of legislative mandates and technological tools to monitor, filter, and block online content. Key tactics include keyword filtering, blocking foreign websites and IP addresses, and employing methods like DNS poisoning and Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) to review and control data packets. The goal is to prevent access to information deemed detrimental or destabilizing, including content related to political resistance, state secrets, pornography, gambling, or violence. This creates a largely isolated Chinese cyberspace, encouraging the use of domestic alternatives to blocked international platforms.12