China’s approach to information dissemination is characterised by treating digital platforms not simply as neutral technologies, but as extensions of media and tools for guiding public opinion. Within this system, state institutions and private technology companies interact—through both formal and informal arrangements—to shape information flows using a range of techniques, including censorship, flooding, friction, and more indirect forms of control.

These practices are not confined to the domestic sphere. Through international media outlets and globally operating digital platforms, elements of China’s information governance increasingly extend beyond its borders. For policymakers, particularly in the EU, this raises important regulatory challenges. Recognising the intertwined roles of state and non-state actors will be essential for developing more effective responses to these evolving forms of information control.