Inside the China Internet Censorship Campaign Targeting Online Negativity and Dissent
In September 2025, China launched yet another sweeping effort to reshape the digital landscape — a new China internet censorship campaign aimed not at overt political dissent, but at something more subtle: online pessimism. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the nation’s top internet regulator, announced a two-month initiative to suppress what it calls “excessive negative and pessimistic sentiments” online. This campaign, officially described as an effort to promote a “civilized and rational online environment,” has sparked widespread concern among social scientists, free-speech advocates, and even ordinary citizens. Its focus on curbing despondency reveals not only the government’s growing anxiety … Read more