BEIJING, March 10, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - China has intensified efforts to block

software that enables internet users to access banned websites during a top
political meeting this week, a leading provider of firewall-leaping software
told AFP.

Beijing operates some of the world's most extensive censorship over the
internet, with web users in mainland China unable to access everything from
Google to news websites without using a virtual private network (VPN).

And as thousands of delegates gather in Beijing this week for the annual "Two
Sessions" meeting, VPN software has increasingly struggled to circumvent the
censorship while outages have become much more frequent, even when compared
to during previous sensitive political events.

"Currently, there is increased censorship due to political meetings in
China," a representative of the Liechtenstein-based service Astrill -- one of
the most popular VPN services for foreigners in China -- confirmed to AFP.

"Unfortunately, not all VPN protocols are functioning at this time," they
said.

"We are working intensively on bringing all services back to normal, but
currently have no ETA."

The use of a VPN without government authorisation is illegal in China, as is
using the software to access blocked websites.

State media workers and diplomats, however, are allowed to access prohibited
websites such as X, formerly Twitter.

Security has tightened across Beijing throughout the Two Sessions, with
security officers patrolling streets with sniffer dogs and elderly volunteers
in red armbands monitoring pedestrians for suspicious behaviour.

Chinese social media giant Weibo has also been quick to block sensitive
topics.

All hashtags discussing Beijing's decision to call off a traditional press
conference by the country's premier were quickly removed from search results.

And another, a reference to China's economic woes declaring "middle class
children have no future" was also removed.

China's domestic media is state-controlled and widespread censorship of
social media is often used to suppress negative stories or critical coverage.

Regulators have previously urged investors to avoid reading foreign news
reports about China.

In a speech last year, President Xi Jinping said the ruling Communist Party's
control of the internet had been "strengthened", and that it was crucial that
the state "govern cyberspace".