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China’s internet censorship laws are notorious for their strict nature, and now a new report has shed light on just how extensive the rules governing the country’s search engines are. According to research by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, Chinese search engines have more than 66,000 rules controlling the content that is displayed to users.
The rules cover topics from pornography and terrorism to politics and even certain celebrities. As a result, search engines such as Baidu and Sogou are unable to display any content deemed to be in violation of these rules. In addition, the report found that these search engines have the ability to censor an individual’s search results based on their IP address, location, and even their search history.
The extensive nature of these rules can make it difficult for users to find the information they are looking for. For example, Baidu has been accused of censoring information about a devastating chemical explosion in Tianjin in 2015, and generally prioritizing information that paints China in a positive light. As a result, many Chinese users have had to resort to using virtual private networks (VPNs) to access information that has been censored by the authorities.
However, it is not just the content that is censored that is causing concern. The sheer number of rules governing these search engines means that they often struggle with what is known as “perplexity” – the ability to understand what a user is looking for when they use a particular search term. This can lead to search results that are irrelevant or incomplete, making it difficult for users to find the information they are looking for.
Another issue with China’s internet censorship laws is what is known as “burstiness”. This refers to the sudden bursts of activity that occur when a particular news story or event breaks. Search engines are often unable to cope with this level of activity and can become overwhelmed, leading to delays in search results or even complete shutdowns of the search engine.
Despite these challenges, Chinese search engines are still some of the most widely used in the world. According to a report by Statista, Baidu alone had over 700 million monthly active users in 2020, making it the fourth most popular search engine in the world after Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
One reason for the continued popularity of Chinese search engines is their ability to adapt to a constantly changing regulatory environment. According to the Citizen Lab report, Chinese search engines are often able to pre-empt the authorities’ censorship demands by taking down content that may be deemed sensitive or offensive without any official order to do so.
This “self-censorship” can help to keep the search engines in the good graces of the authorities, while also ensuring that users can still access some information that may be deemed sensitive. However, it is important to note that not all search engines are created equal in this regard. Some, such as Sogou, have been accused of being more willing to comply with censorship demands than others.
So what does all of this mean for the average Chinese internet user? Well, it means that they have to be careful about what they search for and how they search for it. Using certain keywords or phrases can lead to search results being censored or blocked entirely. In addition, using a VPN to access blocked content may land them in legal trouble if they are caught by the authorities.
Despite these challenges, many Chinese users continue to search for the information they need using search engines such as Baidu and Sogou. While the sheer number of censorship rules can make it difficult for these search engines to provide accurate and timely results, they remain some of the most popular tools for accessing information online in China. As the regulatory environment continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these search engines adapt to new challenges and continue to serve their users in a rapidly changing landscape.
