When Censorship Works: Exploring the Resilience of News Websites to Online Censorship

Abstract To what degree are news websites in autocracies resilient to online censorship? I explore this question Egypt, which has begun heavily censor recent years, alongside several other autocracies. Relying on a sample of 145 outlets, systematically how blocking affects traffic outlets and their current statuses. Statistical tests show that blocked Egyptian lost average 54–55 per cent global more likely halt activity. Heterogeneity analyses reveal the loss was particularly strong for independent, Islamist opposition larger permanently were substantially services. These results support previous work state repression information control showing censorship often works reducing consumption provision alternative political information.