The “clean up” movement on the internet is clamping down on VPN uses

The purge on the internet led by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) with a resolute intention to clean up vulgar and harmful content has its side impact on VPN (Virtual Private Network) users within China. This week, a Chinese netizen was fined RMB 1,000 for accessing prohibited foreign websites via VPN without permission, bypassing the state-imposed firewall. Though the amount of penalty is not a big deal, it flagged an alert to those people who frequently “transport” overseas content from social media as well as news press release to mainland China, that they can be identified “inappropriate” due to their illegal origins.