Real-Time Testing of Internet Filtering in China

The authors are studying Internet filtering in countries worldwide, including restrictions on Web access in China. There is no master list of blocked sites that we (or, from what we can tell, anyone else) can access. Rather, we test "twenty questions" style, asking about individual URLs, whether based upon a domain name or an IP address.

To date, we have obtained lists of sites to check via web directories, search engines, and other automated data-extraction systems. To help broaden the list of pages tested and to provide the general public a means of finding out whether particular pages of interest are filtered, we have created the form below, which will run a realtime query via our methods. We consider this approach an experiment in "open research"; we are as yet uncertain whether sites submitted and tested using this system will in fact broaden our pool of tested sites, but we will analyze submissions and publish results when available.

You can find out more about this system and our project by reading the Frequently Asked Questions. Note that, subsequent to our release of this testing system, we have found that it is often blocked by Chinese network equipment -- a result for which we apologize, but to which we have little recourse.

Note that uses of this system are logged for future study, analysis, and publication.

Update: It is no longer possible to reliably access proxies in China in real-time. This system now exists for archival purposes only.
The OpenNet Initiative, a Berkman Center partner, periodically releases additional testing data related to its research into internet filtering in China. (28 Nov 2006)

This system is intended for use only to determine whether China is blocking to one or a few specified sites. Those who wish to test a large number of sites should contact Ben Edelman (email) for details. Please do not attempt to use "bots" to automate accesses to this site, as doing so may prevent others from using it.

* Jack N. and Lillian R. Berkman Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurial Legal Studies, Harvard Law School.
** J.D. Candidate, Harvard Law School, 2005.

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