The information on the Chinese internet is undergoing a “cliff-like” disappearance, especially information prior to 2005, much of which is now unsearchable. Experts believe that this indicates the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) feeling that its regime is in jeopardy. While exerting efforts to maintain its authority, the CCP is also erasing memories and destroying records of its past wrongdoings.
A dance drama adaptation from the novel “The Golden Lotus” by Chinese-American writer Yan Geling recently began touring in China. This novel was also adapted into a film of the same name by Chinese director Zhang Yimou in 2011. However, on the Chinese internet, information about the dance drama “The Golden Lotus” does not mention the original author Yan Geling.
Over two years ago, Yan Geling’s page could still be found on Baidu Baike (similar to Wikipedia). It wasn’t until 2022 when Yan Geling published an article on WeChat criticizing the CCP’s cover-up of the truth about the epidemic, followed by an interview regarding the “Iron Chain Girl Incident,” where she echoed criticisms of Xi Jinping. Since then, her name has disappeared from the Chinese internet.
A recent online article titled “The Accelerating Collapse of the Chinese Internet” has sparked discussions in China. The author of the article pointed out that a vast amount of content on the Chinese internet is rapidly vanishing, especially information from before 2005. As an example, when searching for “Jack Ma” on Baidu with the time frame set from 1998 to 2005, only one result appears. Similar situations arise when searching for other entrepreneurs.
Xie Tian, a professor at the University of South Carolina’s Business School, recently told Voice of America that the only possible explanation for this unusual phenomenon is that the CCP’s Cyberspace Administration has required internet service providers to erase this information. Especially since much of the disappeared information was released before Xi Jinping took office, indicating tighter government control.
By erasing data from the public eye, Xie Tian believes the CCP is essentially severing parts of history to cover up its wrongdoing. However, everything leaves traces, and overseas media, the internet, and cloud companies will record aspects of the Chinese internet.
Liang Hengqing, director of the Washington Institute for Information and Strategic Studies, stated that the Cyberspace Administration acts as a stability maintenance system. It not only blocks information deemed harmful but also consistently generates messages favorable to the regime, often not based on reality.
The “cliff-like” disappearance of internet information, Liang Hengqing asserts, signifies that the CCP authorities sense the vulnerability of their regime. Eventually, trouble will arise. While striving to maintain their power, they do not hesitate to erase memories. This pattern is a typical move by all dictatorial regimes before facing downfall – destroying records of their past wrongdoings, pretending these events never occurred.