The Great Firewall Blocks Web Browsing
On August 20, 2025, China cuts itself off from the internet for just over an hour. This suggests China may have been testing new censorship technology or experienced a serious misconfiguration.
Activist group Great Firewall Report confirmed the outage occurred between 00:34 and 01:48 Beijing Time. The disruption blocked TCP port 443, which powers secure HTTPS traffic and online communication worldwide. This block prevented Chinese users from accessing most international websites and critical services, including those from Apple and Tesla.
Why Blocking Web Browsing Matters
Port 443 is essential for secure browsing, online payments, and encrypted communication. Blocking it affects not just public browsing but also many business-critical services relying on global servers. For companies, the incident highlights the risks of operating IT infrastructure in countries with strict internet censorship.
Why Did China Implement An Internet Outage?
China often increases online censorship during politically sensitive events. However, analysts found no significant domestic or international event during this period. Great Firewall Report noted the blocking device “did not match” known Great Firewall of China systems. This suggests China may have been testing new censorship technology or experienced a serious misconfiguration.
Have There Been Previous Great Firewall Failures?
This was not the first Great Firewall failure. China’s censorship systems have leaked information and suffered from mismanagement in the past. Reports also show China shares its firewall technology with other governments. Pakistan is believed to have adopted similar systems and also experienced an outage hours before China’s disruption.
Is There A Global Trend of Internet Shutdowns?
Internet shutdowns are not unique to China. Countries such as Iran, Russia, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan have shown they can throttle, filter, or block access entirely. These shutdowns carry high risks:
- They restrict freedom of expression and block access to global information.
- Misconfigurations can cause unintended service outages.
- They reduce trust from international businesses considering expansion.
Steven, CEO of ZENDATA, Shares His View
Steven, co-CEO of ZENDATA, connected China’s outage with wider global practices:
“During the Iran-Israeli war, Iran cut internet access to isolate itself. Russia, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan also demonstrate this ability. But deploying such technology is risky. It can backfire if misconfigured and it damages international trust. Companies may hesitate to deploy IT systems in nations that cannot guarantee reliable internet access.”
What Are The Key Takeaways Of The China Internet Outage?
The China internet outage 2025 highlights growing global risks. Companies operating in censored markets must:
- Strengthen cyber risk management for possible internet disruptions.
- Distribute IT infrastructure across multiple geographic regions.
- Assess political risk before expanding into restrictive markets.
