Subtle Censorship and Intimidation in Chinese Diaspora

Censorship and surveillance by the Chinese state extend to the Chinese diaspora, influencing individuals like a Chinese woman in the Netherlands who fears expressing her concerns publicly. Despite not being a dissident or activist, she faces monitoring and censorship on the WeChat app, leading to a sense of intimidation and fear. The subtle censorship on WeChat involves messages being sent but not received, indicating that all messages are read by the Chinese state. Additionally, the monitoring of WeChat accounts registered to foreign phones further contributes to the feeling of being watched, creating an atmosphere of intimidation among individuals even without direct threats.