University student Duan from China used a VPN to access Discord and join a community discussing politics and ideas like democracy, anarchism, and communism. Yang Minghao, a popular vlogger, talked about the Discord group, leading to Duan’s interest. However, Duan and other members were later questioned by the police, with Duan being detained for 24 hours. The incident highlights China’s strict censorship regime where even private discussions on political topics can lead to trouble.
China’s internet is heavily regulated, and individuals are often punished for making sensitive or critical comments online. A man was imprisoned for posting inappropriate remarks, and even pro-government commentators face bans for comments not aligning with Beijing’s views. Similar crackdowns have been seen this year, with bloggers’ followers questioned by the police.
Li Ying, a blogger based in Italy, warned his followers about police interrogations, urging them to unfollow him to protect themselves. Other bloggers like Wang Zhi’an also reported police questioning their followers. This crackdown is part of a wider effort to combat online rumors and dissent, with local authorities actively dealing with cases of online misinformation.
Despite these restrictions, there is a growing trend of shared values among individuals in and from China who continue to challenge the authorities. The Discord crackdown, widely discussed online, shows a resilience to censorship and a hope for a future where free expression is possible.
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