Since April this year, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities have escalated their crackdown on internet users using VPNs to bypass censorship. On April 28, the VPN service known as “LetsVPN,” which claimed to be “always accessible,” announced that it had to terminate its operations in mainland China due to the impact of internet censorship. This news has sparked discussions on overseas social media platforms.
In its announcement on April 28, LetsVPN expressed regret in making a difficult decision to cease its business operations in mainland China. The company stated that its technical team had been trying to address connectivity issues almost every hour over the past 20 days, but was unable to do so effectively due to network blocks.
The announcement emphasized the protection of users’ rights, assistance with refunds, and the ongoing development of an automated refund system to reduce waiting time for users.
Since April, the CCP authorities have tightened control over VPN services, leaving many VPN users unable to access blocked content from outside the “Great Firewall.”
Previously, LetsVPN had issued a “Network Disruption Notice” in its message center, citing “uncontrollable factors” affecting the internet experience for some users and expressing apologies. LetsVPN had reassured its commitment to users’ rights, stating, “We will not disappear. Whether you choose to wait or temporarily leave, we will be responsible for your rights to the end.”
Now, LetsVPN has officially announced the cessation of its operations in mainland China, prompting refunds for its users and sparking debates among internet users on social media platforms abroad.
Internet users have expressed disappointment over LetsVPN’s service halt, with sentiments like, “It’s regrettable that LetsVPN is discontinuing its service. We knew this day of North-Koreaification would come, but when it actually arrived, it felt surreal. We must cherish the last moments of accessing real information; from now on, we may only rely on state-controlled news to understand the world.”
Some netizens speculated, “The stability of LetsVPN once made me feel like it was a ‘red second-generation’ entrepreneurial project. Even if it encountered issues, I suspect that the CCP may further block overseas IPs to restrict access to platforms such as Weibo and TikTok for international users, eliminating any negative information about China from external scrutiny.”
Others noted, “I have seen this information and have already switched to a new ‘ladder.’ The tighter the CCP clamps down on its people’s voices, the more it shows their incompetence. The CCP fears that people will know about events overseas while also trying to prevent the world from seeing the tragedies within China. Breaking down the wall is a crucial step towards the CCP’s downfall.”
Leaked official documents circulating from within China indicate that the authorities are cracking down on cross-border data connections, requiring Internet Data Center (IDC) service providers to cooperate in blocking users from accessing foreign websites. Authorities are collaborating with telecommunications companies to crack down on students using VPNs at universities, resulting in students being summoned or penalized.
Gan Wenwei, a former mainland software vendor now residing in the Netherlands, revealed that servers for his group of 30 colleagues in China had been disconnected, confirming the recent heightened scrutiny.
However, industry insiders like Dong Ping believe that many of Xi Jinping’s initiatives tend to fizzle out, usually within six months. The crackdown on VPN usage could also negatively impact the economy and lead to widespread discontent among the populace.
He mentioned that there will always be ways for individuals to find solutions amid such restrictions.
Policy analyst Zeng Minzhen at the National Security and Decision-Making Simulation Research Institute of Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense and Security Studies recently wrote an article stating that while the CCP’s comprehensive blockage may have a significant short-term impact on circumvention efforts, its effectiveness in the long term will be constrained by market demand and technological advancements. When tens of millions of individuals rely on the international internet for their livelihoods, solely relying on administrative measures may not completely halt this demand. Instead, it could fuel the rapid expansion of underground technical services and grey markets, creating a structural antagonistic relationship.