How Censorship Works
The technical methods governments use to block websites and the tools people use to get around them.
Articles in this chapter
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1
What Is Internet Censorship? An Overview
Learn what internet censorship actually is, who enforces it, and how it works—from government blocks to surveillance. A guide for beginners and technical readers alike.
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2
How Websites Actually Get Blocked: Technical Methods Explained
Learn how DNS filtering, IP blocking, DPI, and other technical methods block websites. Understand what each costs censors and how circumvention works.
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3
DNS Blocking: How the Cheapest Censorship Works (and Why It Fails)
How DNS blocking censors the internet, why governments use it, and why it's trivial to bypass by switching DNS resolvers or using encrypted DNS.
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4
IP Blocking and Why It Backfires: The Collateral Damage Problem
How IP blocking works, why governments and services use it, and why it often takes down unrelated websites. A technical explanation without the marketing.
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5
SNI Inspection: Why Censors Can See Your Destination Even With HTTPS
How Server Name Indication leaks domain names during HTTPS connections. Why this happens, which countries exploit it, and emerging fixes like ECH.
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6
How Deep Packet Inspection Works: Reading the Contents, Not Just the Address
Deep packet inspection examines encrypted traffic patterns to identify protocols. Learn how DPI blocks VPNs, why it's expensive, and how obfuscation tools respond.
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7
How China's Great Firewall Works: Technical Methods Explained
Learn how the Great Firewall censors the internet through DNS poisoning, IP blocking, DPI, and active probing. Understanding its techniques and limitations.
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8
Internet Shutdowns: How Governments Disable Connectivity
How governments shut down internet access: technical methods, reasons, and real-world examples. Understand the mechanics and economics of national connectivity blackouts.
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9
How OONI Measures Internet Censorship
Learn how OONI's volunteer network detects and documents internet blocking worldwide. Understand the tools, methods, and limitations of measuring censorship.
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10
Tor Bridges and Pluggable Transports: How Censorship Circumvention Actually Works
Learn how Tor bridges and pluggable transports help users bypass censorship. Understand obfs4, meek, Snowflake, and WebTunnel without the marketing.
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