--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: China is building a model for how an…" description: "\"China is building a model for how an authoritarian government can survive the Internet.\" — Rebecca MacKinnon" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_authoritarian_china-is-building-a-model-for-how-an-aut_2333399.png" --- # China is building a model for how an authoritarian… ![“China is building a model for how an authoritarian government can survive the Internet.” quote by Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_authoritarian_china-is-building-a-model-for-how-an-aut_2333399.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_authoritarian_china-is-building-a-model-for-how-an-aut_2333399.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_authoritarian_china-is-building-a-model-for-how-an-aut_2333399.png) > “China is building a model for how an authoritarian government can survive the Internet.” [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Authoritarian regimes adapt to control the Internet, shaping digital governance. **In simple terms:** Governments reshape online freedom. Key Takeaway Stay vigilant of digital rights. Themes politics technology freedom of speech Mood critical concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - policy advocacy - online activism - privacy tools Key Concepts digital authoritarianism surveillance Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens protect online freedom? - What role do tech companies play? A Different Perspective Complex to resist state control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authoritarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authoritarian/) [Authoritarian government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authoritarian-government/) [Building](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/building/) [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Government Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government-survive-868240/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/internet/) [Model](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/model/) [Model Authoritarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/model-authoritarian-5622122/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Survive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survive/) [Survive Internet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survive-internet-5622123/) ## Related quotes > [We see the tendency in the world to criticise democracy and sometimes even to say that authoritarian countries like China are more efficient. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/we-see-the-tendency-in-the-world-to-criticise-democracy-and-sometimes/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [“To make no decision in regard to the growth of authoritarian government is already a decision for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-august-schaeffer/to-make-no-decision-in-regard-to-the-growth-of-authoritarian/) [Francis August Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-august-schaeffer/) > [When we talk about authoritarianism, we conjure up out-of-date visions from the 1930s. But we are no more likely to do authoritarian government the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/when-we-talk-about-authoritarianism-we-conjure-up-out-of-date-visions/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [Once people sense their own power, no authoritarian government can stand against the people who are determined to be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj/once-people-sense-their-own-power-no-authoritarian-government-can/) [Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tsakhiagiin-elbegdorj/) > [Why do economists fall in love with authoritarian governments?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasheng-huang/why-do-economists-fall-in-love-with-authoritarian-governments/) [Yasheng Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasheng-huang/) > [We say less things about Australians than Australians say about us, calling me a dictator, authoritarian government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/we-say-less-things-about-australians-than-australians-say-about-us/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [President Hindenburg had ultimate say over whether the government would survive or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-larson/president-hindenburg-had-ultimate-say-over-whether-the-government/) [Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-larson/) > [No form of government can survive that excludes dictatorship when the life of the nation is at stake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-rossiter/no-form-of-government-can-survive-that-excludes-dictatorship-when-the/) [Clinton Rossiter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-rossiter/) > [A government that cannot survive truth and must resort to stamping out truth is not a government that any country wants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-craig-roberts/a-government-that-cannot-survive-truth-and-must-resort-to-stamping/) [Paul Craig Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-craig-roberts/) > [If Theresa May is big enough to admit her mistakes and put a kinder Conservatism into the heart of her government, she may survive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-soubry/if-theresa-may-is-big-enough-to-admit-her-mistakes-and-put-a-kinder/) [Anna Soubry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-soubry/) > [ No government could survive without champagne. In the throat of our diplomatic people \[it\] is like oil in the wheels of an engine. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-dargent/no-government-could-survive-without-champagne-in-the-throat-of-our/) [Joseph Dargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-dargent/) > [Authoritarian systems evolve. Authoritarianism in the Internet Age is not your old Cold War authoritarianism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/authoritarian-systems-evolve-authoritarianism-in-the-internet-age-is/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [If people want consultative government, the price is increased complexity and delay in arriving at decisions. If they want speed of government, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-james-cowperthwaite/if-people-want-consultative-government-the-price-is-increased/) [John James Cowperthwaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-james-cowperthwaite/) > [The hope in the hearts of millions of national socialists can be fulfilled only by an authoritarian government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-von-papen/the-hope-in-the-hearts-of-millions-of-national-socialists-can-be/) [Franz von Papen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-von-papen/) > [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) ## More by Rebecca MacKinnon > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [In January 2012, Google Plus started to roll out support for nicknames and pseudonyms, but those registering with a name other than their real-life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/in-january-2012-google-plus-started-to-roll-out-support-for-nicknames/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [It becomes dangerous for somebody who doesn't want their boss to know their sexual preference to use online networks to push for laws supporting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/it-becomes-dangerous-for-somebody-who-doesn-t-want-their-boss-to-know/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [If high-tech companies are serious about doing the right thing, they can join together and lobby for more transparency and accountability in the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-high-tech-companies-are-serious-about-doing-the-right-thing-they/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [Any new legal measures, or cooperative arrangements between government and companies meant to keep people from organizing violence or criminal actions, must not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/any-new-legal-measures-or-cooperative-arrangements-between-government/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [Every news organization needs a social media strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/every-news-organization-needs-a-social-media-strategy/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [Professional camera crews are rarely there when a bomb goes off or a rocket lands. They usually show up afterwards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/professional-camera-crews-are-rarely-there-when-a-bomb-goes-off-or-a/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [Google's entire business model and its planning for the future are banking on an open and free Internet. And it will not succeed if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/google-s-entire-business-model-and-its-planning-for-the-future-are/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [A number of countries, including Russia and China, have put forward proposals to regulate aspects of the Internet like 'crime' and 'security' that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/a-number-of-countries-including-russia-and-china-have-put-forward/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [You don't have to be a nerd or a programmer or a network engineer to make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/you-don-t-have-to-be-a-nerd-or-a-programmer-or-a-network-engineer-to/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [A moral argument about whether censorship is good or bad deteriorates quickly into accusations about who is more or less patriotic, moral, pious, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/a-moral-argument-about-whether-censorship-is-good-or-bad-deteriorates/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [There's a real contradiction that's difficult to explain to the West and the outside world about China and about the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/there-s-a-real-contradiction-that-s-difficult-to-explain-to-the-west/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [The relationship between citizens and government is increasingly mediated through the Internet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/the-relationship-between-citizens-and-government-is-increasingly/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [Consistently, Baidu has censored politically sensitive search results much more thoroughly than Google.cn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/consistently-baidu-has-censored-politically-sensitive-search-results/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [Human rights in cyberspace are really no different from rights in the physical world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/human-rights-in-cyberspace-are-really-no-different-from-rights-in-the/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) [Explore all 206 Rebecca MacKinnon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) ## More Authoritarian quotes > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [We very clearly do not want an authoritarian regime... setting standards in the world marketplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratcliffe/we-very-clearly-do-not-want-an-authoritarian-regime-setting-standards/) [John Ratcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratcliffe/) > [Cumulatively, American society is sliding toward a new form of 'authoritarian democracy'. Elections continue, free speech is generally protected, institutions operate in accordance with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-a-falk/cumulatively-american-society-is-sliding-toward-a-new-form-of/) [Richard A. Falk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-a-falk/) > [“If you care about other people, that's now a very dangerous idea. If you care about other people, you might try to organize to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/if-you-care-about-other-people-that-s-now-a-very-dangerous-idea-if/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Democracy can exist only in the countries where people are brave! Coward nations always live under the authoritarian regimes!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/democracy-can-exist-only-in-the-countries-where-people-are-brave/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Even more than comparing society to a family, comparing it to a body makes an authoritarian ordering of society seem inevitable, immutable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/even-more-than-comparing-society-to-a-family-comparing-it-to-a-body/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) > [We are not and will never be an authoritarian regime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/we-are-not-and-will-never-be-an-authoritarian-regime/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [Why do economists fall in love with authoritarian governments?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasheng-huang/why-do-economists-fall-in-love-with-authoritarian-governments/) [Yasheng Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasheng-huang/) > [“Just as in the Trump-Giuliani Ukraine conspiracy, we saw a ruthless, single-minded obsession with staying in power; a manifest lack of moral values, shame,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-yovanovitch/just-as-in-the-trump-giuliani-ukraine-conspiracy-we-saw-a-ruthless/) [Marie Yovanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-yovanovitch/) > [North Korea aside, most authoritarian governments have already accepted the growth of the Internet culture as inevitable; they have little choice but to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeny-morozov/north-korea-aside-most-authoritarian-governments-have-already/) [Evgeny Morozov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeny-morozov/) > [I am the first authoritarian government elected to become a dictator and then resigning as a dictator. So this is the first dictator in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahathir-mohamad/i-am-the-first-authoritarian-government-elected-to-become-a-dictator/) [Mahathir Mohamad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahathir-mohamad/) > [There is an authoritarian strain in all of Leftism-- because the bigger the government, the more it controls other peoples' lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/there-is-an-authoritarian-strain-in-all-of-leftism-because-the-bigger/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [My position and the state will never allow me to become a dictator, but an authoritarian style of rule is characteristic of me, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lukashenko/my-position-and-the-state-will-never-allow-me-to-become-a-dictator/) [Alexander Lukashenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lukashenko/) > [You really don't create an authoritarian society unless you control the personal choices including the sexual choices of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-hefner/you-really-don-t-create-an-authoritarian-society-unless-you-control/) [Hugh Hefner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-hefner/) > [The question is: Particularly in the post-9/11 era, are societies becoming more liberal or more authoritarian?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/the-question-is-particularly-in-the-post-9-11-era-are-societies/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) [Browse all 185 Authoritarian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authoritarian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "China is building a model for how an authoritarian government can survive the Internet.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rebecca MacKinnon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/china-is-building-a-model-for-how-an-authoritarian-government-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Authoritarian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/china-is-building-a-model-for-how-an-authoritarian-government-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_authoritarian_china-is-building-a-model-for-how-an-aut_2333399.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_authoritarian_china-is-building-a-model-for-how-an-aut_2333399.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/rebecca-mackinnon-1815_authoritarian_china-is-building-a-model-for-how-an-aut_2333399.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“China is building a model for how an authoritarian government can survive the Internet.” — Rebecca MacKinnon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rebecca MacKinnon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "China is building a model for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/china-is-building-a-model-for-how-an-authoritarian-government-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/china-is-building-a-model-for-how-an-authoritarian-government-can/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```