See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348429732 Scaling Authoritarian Information Control How China Adjusts the Level of Online Censorship Article in Political Research Quarterly · January 2021 CITATIONS READS 0 102 2 authors: Rongbin Han Li Shao University of Georgia Zhejiang University 19 PUBLICATIONS 254 CITATIONS 7 PUBLICATIONS 11 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: Self-censorship View project Cyber Criticism of Chinese Public Intellectuals View project All content following this page was uploaded by Li Shao on 19 January 2021. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. Scaling Authoritarian Information Control How China Adjusts the Level of Online Censorship Rongbin Han Department of International Affairs, University of Georgia Address: 322 Candler Hall, University of Georgia, Athens GA 30602 Phone: 706-542-6705 Email:
[email protected] Li Shao (Corresponding Author) Department of Political Science, School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University Address: 634 School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang U Zijingang, Hangzhou, China 310068 Phone: 86-0592-5633-6986 Email:
[email protected] 0 Abstract Autocracies can conduct “strategic censorship" online by selectively targeting different types of content, and by adjusting the level of information control. While studies have confirmed the state’s selective targeting behaviour in censorship, few have empirically examined how the autocracies may adjust the control level. Using data with a 6-year span, this paper tests whether the Chinese state scales up control over citizenry complaints in reaction to a series of socio-political events.