“Almost every week, there are stories in the press or on Chinese social media about what even the official Chinese media call 'hot online topics:' stories about how people in a particular village or town used Weibo to expose malfeasance by local or regional authorities.”

American journalist and digital rights advocate, Rebecca MacKinnon has spent decades examining the intersection of technology, media, and governance. She is best known for her work on internet freedom, censorship, and the ethical implications of digital platforms, often bridging academic research with practical policy recommendations.