London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Clubhouse blocked in China just as Parler blocked in USA as censors shut rare space for sensitive political debate

Clubhouse blocked in China just as Parler blocked in USA as censors shut rare space for sensitive political debate

Right after USA blocked Parler and placed a social media ban on a siting president - Clubhouse appears to have been blocked in China just days after it became the go-to app for uncensored conversations on a host of sensitive issues banned on other platforms. Clubhouse it’s a popular political chat rooms that often used as an anti China propaganda platform.
Over the weekend, several large Chinese-language chat rooms were set up on the invite-only audio app, where guests talked about politically-charged topics such as the ongoing crackdown against the Uyghurs in Xinjiangdemocracy in Hong Kong and the sovereignty of Taiwan.
By Monday evening, many Clubhouse users in mainland China reported that the app had been censored. When they tried to log onto the app, they received a red error message showing "a secure connection to the server cannot be made."
    However, like Twitter (TWTR) and many other platforms that are blocked by China's Great Firewall — a sprawling censorship and surveillance apparatus — the app can still be accessed by using a virtual private network. VPNs use encryption to disguise internet traffic, helping people in China get around the firewall. Clubhouse did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
    On Clubhouse, several chat rooms soon sprang up to discuss the blocking of the app. They were joined by hundreds of users, including some who said they were based in mainland China. Greatfire.org, a group which monitors internet censorship in China, also confirmed that the app had been blocked.
    The ban on Clubhouse comes as little surprise. With its political discussions drawing so much interest from mainland China, many users and observers expected it was only a matter of time before the app was blocked. While the censorship might deter new users, it is unclear how many existing users will be kept off the platform. 
    Susan Liang, a 31-year-old from Shenzhen, said she would continue to join Clubhouse chats on sensitive topics via a VPN because she didn't want to give up the frank and open discussions.
    "It is too rare an opportunity. Everyone has lived under the Great Firewall for so long, but on this platform, we can talk about anything," she told CNN Business. "It's like someone drowning, and can finally breathe in a large gulp of air."
    But Liang expects some other users might be discouraged by having to use a VPN, as that technology has been increasingly targeted by Chinese government crackdowns. Any VPN not approved by the government is illegal. 
    Benjamin Ismail, an expert with Apple Censorship — a project run by GreatFire.org — said some users would be discouraged by the block but "it might not kill the app immediately" in China. 
    There were other obstacles for Chinese users to navigate, even before the reported blockage. The app is only available on iPhones, and only to those with a non-Chinese Apple (AAPL)account. Once downloaded, prospective users also require an invite code, which can be hard to come by. On Monday, some were being sold on Chinese e-commerce platform Taobao for between $13 and $30 each. 

    Popular political chat rooms, often used to promote Anti-China propaganda

    While the app first became popular in China among tech industry circles, its political chat rooms quickly drew newcomers eager for release from the tight censorship at home. As it grew in popularity, many Chinese also joined to discuss topics such as culture, lifestyle and celebrity gossip. But the space for free, inclusive political discussions was one of the rarest qualities of the app for Chinese-speaking communities.
    One chat room hosted by Taiwan-based blogger Zola was running non-stop for almost 120 hours, joined by Chinese speakers in different time zones.
    Another popular chat room invited young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to share their views and personal stories. The discussions started with lighthearted subjects but soon turned to politics, with users comparing the political systems of China and Taiwan and debating the prospects of unification.
    "I don't think these topics should be off limits," Jimmy Tan, a Guangzhou-based user who opened the chat room with his designer friend in Taiwan, wrote on social media Saturday. "The fact that our chats can so quickly switch to these topics exactly means that we should talk about them — they are relevant to every one of us — and it also means that we've been holding our tongues for way too long."
    Other users and outside observers expressed skepticism over how representative the groups engaging in these political discussions are of Chinese public opinion, pointing to the self-selecting nature of the participants, as well as the barriers to using Clubhouse itself which prevent it from being a completely public app.
      And the warning signs were already looming before the censors struck. On Monday, Global Times, a state-run nationalist tabloid, accused political discussions on the app of being "one-sided." 
      "Political topics on the platform are not discussed as rationally as other topics like technology or culture," the paper said.
      Newsletter

      Related Articles

      0:00
      0:00
      Close
      Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
      Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
      South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
      Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
      Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
      US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
      Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
      Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
      White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
      France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
      Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
      Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
      U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
      U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
      U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
      Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
      Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
      U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
      OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
      Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
      Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
      Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
      Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
      EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
      Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
      President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
      Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
      U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
      Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
      Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
      India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
      U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
      Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
      SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
      King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
      Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
      Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
      Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
      Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
      Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
      Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
      Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
      Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
      Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
      Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
      Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
      France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
      Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
      Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
      Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
      ×