Uncovering the Underlying Factors of Global Internet Censorship: An Empirical Study on the Blockade of Media Information Flow

The Internet has made the world seem like a global village, yet many scholars have found that access to the Internet is disrupted in some countries due to various forces. Despite a wealth of research on Internet censorship, the flow of information and how it is blocked on a global scale has yet to be studied. This study aims to fill that gap by exploring the worldwide flow of media information and how it is blocked on the Internet.

The study collects unique data by tracing the path of accessing 20,000 media-related websites in over 100 countries through either human or server-based tracers using either ICMP or TCP-based echo request packets. Two separate studies are conducted based on two datasets: the blocking network between countries and the accessibility of media websites.

Study 1 explores the determinants of country-wise blocking relationships using social network analyses and Exponential Random Graph Models (ERGMs) by incorporating theories from international relations and communication. The study finds that key countries such as China, Iran, and North Korea play a crucial role in disrupting the flow of information, with geopolitical and cultural factors (such as democracy, media freedom, language differences, and cultural distance) being the most important drivers of the blockade.

Study 2 analyzes the accessibility of particular media in a specific country through multilevel modeling of media-level characteristics (such as language, content focus, type, and bias) and country-level differences in geopolitical and cultural factors. The results show that both media-level and country-level factors play a role in determining the accessibility of a media website.
The findings of the study lead to the proposal of the Authoritative Information Control Theory, which has important theoretical implications for the fields of international relations, communication, and information science.

The study's findings also have implications for media organizations and journalists looking to disseminate information on a global scale. The results show that both media-level and country-level factors play a role in determining the accessibility of a media website. This suggests that media organizations may need to take into consideration these factors when creating content, or choosing which countries to target, in order to maximize accessibility.

Additionally, the study's use of unique data collected through tracing the path of accessing 20,000 media-related websites provides valuable insight into the worldwide flow of media information and the factors that contribute to its blocking. This data can be used to inform future research on the topic and help develop strategies for overcoming information blockages on the Internet.
Overall, the findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the worldwide flow of media information and how it is blocked on the Internet, and have practical implications for media organizations, journalists, and policymakers.