Clubhouse Blocked in China - Censorship Update

Clubhouse Access Restricted in China Amidst Lunar New Year

A significant number of Chinese users experienced a sudden loss of access to the Clubhouse audio app on Monday evening, coinciding with the beginning of the Lunar New Year celebrations. Reports quickly surfaced within WeChat groups as users sought solutions to regain entry to the rapidly popular platform.

Rapid Growth and Subsequent Blockage

The audio-based social network, Clubhouse, had been experiencing a surge in user adoption within China, fostering conversations on diverse subjects. However, it appeared destined to follow the path of other U.S.-based applications facing restrictions, and as of Monday, a ban was confirmed by TechCrunch.

While the Clubhouse application itself is now inaccessible to users in China, its website remains operational. The likelihood of the app’s return is considered low, given the substantial modifications required to align with Chinese internet regulations.

Concerns Over Moderation and Government Control

Clubhouse has previously faced scrutiny in the U.S. regarding its moderation policies and prevention of abusive behavior. It is therefore unsurprising that it has encountered difficulties with China’s stringent enforcement of information control measures.

The app was not officially available through Apple’s China App Store, but access was previously possible without a VPN for users who had already installed it.

Apple's Role and Censorship Monitoring

The app was briefly listed on the Chinese App Store after its global launch in September, but was subsequently removed in October. The entity responsible for the removal – Clubhouse or Apple – remains unclear.

Benjamin Ismail, campaign and advocacy director at GreatFire.org, suggested that Apple may be relieved by the situation, shifting the focus from its involvement in app removal to the government’s server blocking actions.

User Activity and Sensitive Topics

The number of users from mainland China on the platform was uncertain, as the app wasn’t listed on the Chinese App Store. However, a discussion room centered around the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests – a sensitive topic in China – reached its participant limit of 5,000 before the ban.

Another room focusing on the same subject attracted over 2,000 users.

Technical Aspects of the Blockage

Greatfire.org reported that Clubhouse’s API was blocked around 7 PM Beijing time on Monday. Users within WeChat groups also indicated an inability to receive verification codes on Chinese phone numbers, further confirming the extent of the blockage.

Many Chinese users registered with phone numbers linked to their national IDs, potentially facilitating identification by authorities.

Community and Awareness of Potential Restrictions

In the preceding two weeks, Clubhouse gained traction within specific communities in mainland China, including those in the startup, investment, and academic sectors. Rare cross-border dialogues between users from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan took place.

Many users were aware of the app’s potential for a short lifespan in China, given the prevalence of open and often politically charged discussions.

State Media Commentary

Prior to the ban, the Global Times, a state-backed Chinese newspaper, published an article questioning Clubhouse’s claim of being a “free speech heaven,” citing user reports of “anti-China” sentiments.

Rise of Domestic Alternatives

As noted by TechCrunch, Clubhouse’s initial success has spurred the development of several domestic alternatives focused on drop-in audio networking. However, replicating Clubhouse’s popularity may prove challenging due to the same regulatory constraints that led to its inaccessibility.

Circumventing Restrictions

Some users in mainland China were able to regain access to Clubhouse using VPNs. Certain features remained functional even without an active VPN, provided users had initially entered a room through a VPN connection.

Agora, a company operating in both the U.S. and China, provides the SDK powering Clubhouse’s live audio interactions.

This story was updated on February 8, 2021, with additional details regarding the ban.