China and Taiwan are separated by just 110 miles of water, but their human rights and government style could not be any more different. China’s government rules over nearly 1 billion internet users and restricts some of their freedom on the internet. Taiwan on the other hand is the 5th freest online environment in the world, and even surpassed the United States in that metric. Taiwan deals with a more democratic path and style whereas China deals with a more communistic and restrictive style.
Key Takeaways:
- Taiwan’s internet freedom score is 80 out of 100, while China’s is 10, the worst in the world.
- China has restrictions on online self-publishing and threatens prison for those who defame national “heroes and martyrs.”
- China destroyed media and internet freedom in Hong Kong and could do the same in Taiwan.
“Her name was unsearchable on video-streaming platforms and removed from cast lists, and in some cases entire films and television shows she appeared in were removed from Chinese platforms.”