Recently, the Chinese authorities have further tightened their control over the VPN industry, targeting both domestic VPN operators and “airport VPN users” for monitoring. According to multiple sources, the regulatory measures are becoming more proactive and technologically advanced. However, it has been revealed that some foreign incoming individuals are being recommended to install “special VPNs”, sparking widespread attention to China’s dual-track strategy of internet censorship and data monitoring.
On July 24th, many netizens disclosed on domestic and overseas social media platforms that since May, China has noticeably intensified its crackdown on the domestic VPN (Virtual Private Network) industry. Recently, several informed sources also informed Epoch Times that technical personnel from the Cyberspace Administration of China have begun actively purchasing “ladder” products (VPN services) in the market to target node IP addresses. They then track server providers and their customer information through the reporting mechanism with domestic Internet service providers (ISPs).
Informants also mentioned that once a server is confirmed to be involved in VPN usage, the related nodes are promptly cut off, and customers may face investigation. Several airport operators stated that this “precise crackdown” model has put them under continuous pressure of being banned in a “burst mode”.
An anonymous VPN service operator lamented, saying, “Recently, the Great Firewall (GFW) has been acting frequently, intercepting outbound IPs in batches around 4 p.m. every day, like a scheduled power outage. If this continues, domestic transit tunnels may be completely blocked. The new tunnel protocol is still in the testing phase, so most people can only watch the game between the GFW and the tech community.”
However, at the same time, the Chinese authorities have displayed a “different standard” when it comes to foreigner’s use of VPNs. Ms. Chen, a Korean-Chinese woman, who recently entered Shanghai Pudong International Airport, was actively offered a SIM card and VPN installation service by airport staff upon arrival. During an interview with Epoch Times on July 25th, Ms. Chen stated, “Last week when I arrived in Shanghai, as soon as I cleared customs, the staff enthusiastically introduced their SIM card, saying they could install VPN for me. I asked, isn’t using VPN illegal in China? She replied, ‘Foreigners can use it, as well as compatriots from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan,’ and guaranteed smooth access to foreign websites.”
This kind of “discriminatory treatment” in internet policy has caused dissatisfaction among many Chinese netizens. Some YouTube users have even openly promoted VPNs on the platform as the “only stable and high-speed option in mainland China” and released videos showing the actual effects of VPN software for bypassing the Great Firewall.
Li Wen (pseudonym), a programmer working at an internet company in mainland China, revealed during an interview that both domestic and airport-provided VPN services may harbor risks. He said, “Developing VPN in China requires approval from the Ministry of Public Security and filing with the Cyberspace Administration. In fact, many so-called VPN software are data monitoring tools. They can collect information and browsing records from your mobile phone and upload them for analysis. Once sensitive content is involved, the consequences are unimaginable.”
Li Wen further stated that databases in Beijing analyze large amounts of data transmitted daily by domestic VPN companies, some of which are located overseas. These companies focus on two categories: “those related to regime security and stability, such as petitioning, rights protection, and criticizing CCP leaders; and those in the fields of technology and commerce, including chip dynamics, activities of foreign enterprises, or international business cooperation projects.”
Mr. He, a network commentator residing in Australia, believes that the Chinese government is increasingly relying on digital means to control social dynamics. He stated, “Information transmitted by humans may be mixed with falsehoods, but data intercepted through VPNs can truthfully reconstruct user behavior and living scenes, even more convincingly than traditional human intelligence.”
It is reported that while the “Great Firewall” continues to escalate, China’s cyberspace is witnessing the peculiar phenomenon of parallel worlds within and outside the system. On one side, domestic operators tread carefully, while on the other, “special access” is provided to foreign users. In response to this, experts warn that under the stern censorship and high-pressure policies of the Chinese authorities, the space for private VPN use will narrow further, leading to a deeper stage of so-called “data governance” in control over digital information.