While Chinese authorities still strictly monitor and censor their citizens’ Internet use, the establishment of a new 28.7 square kilometre ‘free-trade zone’ in Shanghai could see the creation of a significant gap in the infamous Great Firewall of China.

Restricted to the free-trade area alone, Internet users in the region will reportedly be able to access social networks like Facebook and foreign media like The New York Times that are banned in the rest of the country. The South China Morning Post also suggests international telecommunication companies will be able to establish themselves in the area.

The Shanghai free-trade zone is intended as a ‘test site’ for possible economic reforms. These include special low tax or tax free customs areas (similar to Hong Kong), and an invite for foreign companies and investors to ‘set up shop’ in the region. Chinese authorities are reportedly looking to expand the zone if the trial proves successful.

According to a government source speaking to the South China Morning Sun, “in order to welcome foreign companies to invest and to let foreigners live and work happily in the free-trade zone, we must think about how we can make them feel like at home. If they can’t get onto Facebook or read The New York Times, they may naturally wonder how special the free-trade zone is compared with the rest of China”.

China has previously removed some restrictions on Internet access during the 2008 Olympics, allowing visitors and journalists ‘free’ online access while on certain connections. However, there are still strict controls on social media for the general population, particularly in light of the role of Twitter and Facebook in the recent Middle Eastern protests and unrest. 

Some dedicated Chinese social media sites like Sina Weibo remain very active although strictly controlled, as evident through the censorship of discussion related to this summer’s Tiananmen Square anniversary. It has been reported that Internet users are often detained by authorities, such as The Guardian’s article last week concerning a 16-year old arrested after allegedly posting “fabricated facts” online.

There are some hopes that more foreign websites will soon have a Chinese presence, with Facebook's COO Sheryl Sandberg having recently visited the country. However, attempts by the likes of Google to counter censorship in China have proven largely unsuccessful.