Freedom of Expression and Media Regulations in China

Published on October 30, 2025 and written by Cyril Jarnias

As the world’s second-largest economy, China wields considerable influence on the international stage, yet its strict regulations concerning freedom of expression spark intense debate.

Media rights in this country represent a complex domain where state control and technological development intersect, reflecting a delicate balance between censorship and innovation.

By exploring existing laws and measures, this article examines how the Chinese media landscape navigates this dynamic, highlighting the political, social, and economic stakes that influence journalistic practices and information dissemination.

Legal Framework of Media in China

The Chinese legislative system operates within a hierarchical structure, dominated by the National People’s Congress and heavily influenced by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which guides the drafting, interpretation, and enforcement of media-related laws.

Key Laws Governing Media:

Law	Scope	Main Effects on Media
National Security Law	Domestic and external security	Suppresses any publication deemed subversive, threatening national unity, or social stability
Cyberspace Law	Regulation of the internet and social media	Strengthens censorship, mandates user identification, controls “sensitive” content
Advertising Law	Regulation of advertising content	Prohibits ads contrary to “socialist values” or harmful to public morality
AI Regulations (2025)	Content generated by artificial intelligence	Requires dual labeling of AI content, prohibits removal of original source marks

Influence of the Chinese Communist Party on Media:

• The CCP controls the appointment of senior media executives and dictates daily which topics are permitted or banned.
• All media must follow the party’s ideological line and promote “positive reporting.”
• Journalists must pass a loyalty test to obtain or renew their press card, including assessments on “Xi Jinping Thought.”
• Social media platforms are subject to enhanced censorship (ban on anonymity for accounts with over 500,000 followers, keyword alerts, surveillance of private discussions).

Impact on Press Freedom:

• Despite Article 35 of the Constitution officially guaranteeing press freedom, China ranks among the most repressive countries in this regard (177th out of 180 according to RSF).
• Journalists investigating the CCP face threats, intimidation, and even criminal prosecution.

Restrictions for Foreign Journalists and Media:

• Foreign journalists must obtain a special, renewable accreditation and can be expelled if they publish content deemed sensitive.
• Foreign media outlets require a license to operate in China, under strict administrative oversight, and must comply with censorship and self-censorship.
• Topics such as human rights, Tibet, Xinjiang, or party policies are particularly sensitive.

Legal Consequences for Disseminating Sensitive Content:

• Violations of legislation (spreading rumors, criticizing the government, disclosing state secrets) can result in fines, license revocation, media shutdowns, or even prison sentences.
• Platforms are required to promptly remove any content deemed illegal and cooperate with authorities to identify the authors.

Self-Regulatory Frameworks for Platforms:

• Mandatory implementation of automated systems to detect sensitive or synthetic content.
• Platforms must report and filter AI-generated content and apply labeling and transparency measures.
• Prohibition of tools that remove content identification marks.

Recent Legislative Reforms and Impact:

• Adoption in 2025 of regulations on AI-generated content, imposing dual labeling and increased transparency on content origin.
• Strengthened requirement to reveal the real identity of internet users and content creators.
• Expanded control of authorities over digital platforms, consolidating the CCP’s grip on the information environment.
• These reforms contribute to increased centralization, limit the diversity of information sources, and further restrict freedom of expression and the press.

Key Takeaways:

The Chinese media landscape is strictly regulated by laws and regulations aimed at preserving social stability and the CCP’s ideological control, at the expense of press freedom and information diversity. Any entity, local or foreign, must comply with these requirements or face severe penalties.

Impact of Regulations on Freedom of Expression

The regulation of freedom of expression in China is based on a dense body of legislation and regulations, with the most emblematic laws being the Cybersecurity Law, regulations on online content control, and recent expansions of the national security concept’s scope.

Key Laws and Regulations:

• Cybersecurity Law (2017)
  Strengthens the responsibility of internet service providers and platforms to control, censor, and report content deemed illegal. It mandates data storage within Chinese territory, facilitating state surveillance.
• Regulations on Online Content Control
  The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) regularly issues new rules aimed at limiting the dissemination of critical, subversive, or “contrary to national morality” content. In October 2023, measures targeting the use of “obscure expressions” and online slang were announced to counter attempts to bypass censorship.
• National Security Law and State Secrets Law
  These laws broadly define “national security” and “state secrets,” enabling the criminalization of a wide range of expressions, including dissenting opinions or disclosures of information in the public interest.
• Specific Case of Hong Kong: Article 23 Law (2024)
  This law introduces the Chinese concept of national security to Hong Kong, criminalizing a wide variety of expressions and acts considered seditious or involving collusion with foreign forces, even without incitement to violence. Prison sentences can be up to 10 years.

Recent or Notable Examples of Censorship and Impact on Platforms:

Date	Censorship Example	Platform/Sector Affected	Consequence
January 2025	Arrest of filmmaker Chen Pinlin (“Plato”) for a documentary on the 2022 “white paper” protests	Audiovisual media / social media	Arrest, content removal
October 2023	Arrest of at least six people in Shanghai wearing Halloween costumes	Social media, public space	Arrest, intimidation
July-August 2024	Censorship of a report on cooking oil contamination and a lawyer’s post denouncing an illegal human remains market	Digital and traditional media	Rapid removal, sanctions
2023-2025	Blocking of foreign platforms (Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc.), massive content filtering via the “Great Firewall”	Internet platforms and social media	Inaccessibility, self-censorship

Role of Government Authorities:

• Systematic Surveillance: The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its specialized agencies (CAC, police, security services) conduct constant monitoring of online and offline content, relying on extensive technological and human resources.
• Proactive and Reactive Censorship: Removal of content deemed “sensitive,” account blocking, deletion of posts, keyword filtering.
• Sanctions: Arrests, administrative detentions, criminal prosecutions, fines, and penalties against individuals, journalists, activists, influencers, or platforms that cross the regime’s red lines.
• Extension Abroad: Surveillance and pressure on Chinese nationals abroad and their families to limit the dissemination of critical discourse outside China.

Domestic and International Debates and Criticisms:

• Limited Internal Debate: Any public challenge to the censorship system or restrictive laws leads to swift retaliation. Self-censorship prevails among the majority of citizens and media actors.
• International Criticisms: Human rights organizations and foreign governments regularly denounce the scale of censorship and restrictions, highlighting the contradiction between the national security invoked by Beijing and respect for the universal right to freedom of expression.
• Security/Stability vs. Human Rights Dilemma: Authorities justify restrictions by the need to preserve social stability and national security, while critics see it as a pretext to stifle dissent and control society.

Future Perspectives and Tensions:

In the future, Chinese legislation on freedom of expression is expected to continue tightening, particularly in a context of political tension and international technological competition.

The tension between economic openness—necessary for innovation and international attractiveness—and increased political control is likely to intensify.

The expansion of surveillance systems (digital identity, AI technologies) suggests a strengthening of censorship and repression capabilities, but could also give rise to new forms of circumvention and contestation, internally or externally, as Chinese society evolves and internationalizes.

Challenges Faced by Expatriate Journalists

Expatriate journalists in China face numerous structural and situational challenges that hinder their ability to practice their profession freely and objectively.

Legal Restrictions and Censorship

• Freedom of expression is strictly limited by a series of laws on censorship and information control.
• The Chinese government controls all major information channels (television, radio, print media) and the “Great Firewall” blocks access to many foreign websites.
• State secrets laws were strengthened in 2025, broadening their scope and making any investigation into sensitive or critical topics risky.
• Any publication questioning the legitimacy of the Communist Party is quickly censored and penalized.
• Journalists can be arrested or have their press cards/visas suspended, often under the pretext of national security.

Surveillance and Pressure on Foreign Journalists

• Increased physical and electronic surveillance, including the implementation of a digital ID system enabling constant tracking of online and offline activities.
• Intimidation, public smear campaigns, and recurrent harassment.
• Risk of arbitrary arrest when covering sensitive topics or investigating regions like Tibet or Xinjiang.
• Administrative obstacles: refusal or delay in visa and press card renewals.

Difficulties Accessing Certain Regions or Events

• Strict control over travel, particularly to sensitive regions (Tibet, Xinjiang).
• Certain political or social events are simply inaccessible to foreign media, or access is tightly controlled by authorities.
• Accreditation for conferences or travel may be denied without justification.

Concrete Examples and Testimonies

• In 2022, filmmaker Chen Pinlin was arrested for a documentary on the white paper protests.
• Many journalists have reported being followed, intimidated, or prevented from conducting interviews in certain provinces.
• Foreign reporters have had their visas not renewed after publishing reports deemed too critical.
• African journalists, invited as part of official programs, testified that their perception of China is heavily influenced by the narrative control exercised during visits and training.

Summary Table of Main Obstacles

Challenge Faced	Consequences for the Journalist	Example/Testimony
Legal and media censorship	Self-censorship, risk of sanctions	Arrest of Chen Pinlin (2022)
Increased surveillance	Harassment, intimidation, various pressures	Journalists followed during investigations
Denied access to certain regions	Inability to report on certain facts	Restricted access to Xinjiang/Tibet
Administrative obstacles	Difficulties renewing visas/press cards	Reporters expelled or not accredited

Repercussions on International Media Coverage

• The quality and diversity of information relayed internationally about China are significantly diminished.
• Journalists are forced into self-censorship or superficial analysis to avoid retaliation.
• The lack of independent access to certain regions or events prevents fact-checking and favors the dissemination of uncontested official narratives.

Impact on the Public’s Right to Information

• The international public receives a partial and often biased view of Chinese realities.
• The right to complete, critical, and pluralistic information is seriously compromised, harming the global understanding of Chinese issues.

In summary, independent investigative journalism is systematically hindered in China, undermining the quality of global information and depriving the public of a fundamental right to information.