They scared non-technically-minded people who already didn't use vpns into not trying them, but everyone I know in China who used and uses vpns without a problem for years are still using them today.

I know nothing about running a server, I'm just talking about my experience from the user side of the equation.

[–] makingrain@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Ah ok. Well, as I said I lived there for years and i'm telling you they can and do block VPN traffic (not all, another commenter mentioned Astrill) quite well. To say zero success is incorrect.

Location (and peering) might be a factor, so if you/your friends lived somewhere different to I your experience may differ.

[–] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 year ago

I mentioned astrill too, they do pretty well.

Vpns are working in Ningbo, Tianjin, urumqi, Chengdu, Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, xian right now, idk, I haven't seen or heard of the problems you're describing, but I'm heading back over for the new year this year, so I'll check.

I think failing to block increasing, constant vpn use around the north, South, east, West, and center of a country for a decade despite constantly declaring vpns illegal and banned and stopped by government firewalls counts as zero practical success, yes.

[–] HipPriest@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago

My sister still lives there and from what she says it's not too difficult. Some VPNs work, others are on the 'no longer work' list and at big events they mysteriously stop working.

She's not technically minded, she'll just be using an app.