The Great Firewall with Yi Ling Liu: Inside the Chinese Internet | WorldNow with Jim Falk

February 10, 2026 – Thirty years ago, the world began to discover the power of the Internet: a digital world and resource to connect, share ideas, learn, and earn. While the rest of the world connected, the Chinese government began creating a system of strict surveillance and censorship on its internet – now known as the Great Firewall.

Today, as the country’s leadership intensifies its control of public discourse and Western headlines reduce the Chinese public to a faceless monolith, what is the true online and on-the ground reality for Chinese citizens? Author and journalist Yi-Ling Liu joins us on WorldNow with Jim Falk to tell the untold story of the Chinese internet.

Hear how Chinese citizens have navigated the last 30 years of surveillance and censorship while searching for freedom and connection – behind the Great Firewall.

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Get yourself a copy of The Great Firewall on Bookshop.org and support your local bookstore

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WorldNow with Jim Falk is hosted by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, with the Asia Society – Texas, World Affairs Councils of America and World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth.

Presented in partnership with the Alaska World Affairs Council, Colorado Springs World Affairs Council, Columbia World Affairs Council, Columbus Council on World Affairs, Foreign Policy Association, Global Santa Fe, International Women’s Forum – Connecticut, Los Angeles World Affairs Council, Montana World Affairs Council, Off the Record, Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations, World Affairs Council of Albuquerque, World Affairs Council of Austin, World Affairs Council of Charlotte, World Affairs Council of Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky, World Affairs Council of Greater Houston, World Affairs Council of Hampton Roads, World Affairs Council of Jacksonville, World Affairs Council of New Orleans, World Affairs Council of Northwest Ohio, World Affairs Council of Orange County, World Affairs Council of San Antonio, World Affairs Council of Western Massachusetts, WorldBoston, WorldDenver, and WorldOregon.

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Music composed by Zac Harmon and Christopher Troy

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