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Lynette Ong

@onglynette.bsky.social
4.7K followers 544 following 372 posts

LynetteOng.com Distinguished Prof of Chinese Politics, University of Toronto. Senior Fellow, Asia Society. Author of “Outsourcing Repression” shorturl.at/qtNj8. Autocracies. Repression. Violence. Protests. Development. Also Southeast Asia.

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Reposted by Lynette Ong
Xun-ling Au 歐迅灵 🏴 @xunlingau.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Those targeted by Singaporean authorities include @kirstenhan.com whose written a bit more about her experience here:
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Made in China Journal @madeinchinajournal.com · 29/09/2026
Fresh meals and fancy gadgets delivered to your doorstep instantly, at rock-bottom prices, are among China's top draws. But at what cost? For our podcast, Lizhi Liu and Jack Linzhou Xing join @yangyangcheng.bsky.social to unpack the rise of China's e-commerce giants and the politics behind them.
madeinchinajournal.com
Episode 12 | Entrapped by E-Commerce | Made in China Journal
Life before e-commerce can feel like a foreign country. For the ‘Chinamaxxing’ crowd, fresh meals and fancy gadgets delivered to your doorstep almost instantly, at astonishingly low prices, are among ...
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Alex Dukalskis @alexdukalskis.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
My department - @ucdpolitics.bsky.social - is hiring two PERMANENT posts in any area of politics, international relations, theory, or development studies. Please apply if you are on the academic job market, and if you're not, please do us a solid & spread the word! Deadline NOV 9.
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Weirong Guo @weirongguo.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
A new paper with @wwwendyz502.bsky.social is finally online in Cultural Sociology! We look at how Chinese youth think and feel about Hong Kong and Taiwan. @culsoc.bsky.social @britsoci.bsky.social doi.org/10.1177/1749...
doi.org
Imagining “Us” and “Them”: Emotional Logics of Sovereignty and National Belonging among Chinese Youth - Weirong Guo, Wendy Weile Zhou, 2026
How do people emotionally imagine political others and the competing sovereignty claims they represent, and how are these imaginaries tied to different visions ...
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Authoritarian Political Systems Group @apsgworkshop.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The call for papers for our Spring 2027 workshop season is now open! We welcome applications by early-career scholars who study authoritarian political regimes regardless of their methodological approaches. For more information and to apply visit: apsg.work/cfp/
apsg.work
Call for Papers Spring 2027
The Authoritarian Political Systems Group is pleased to announce a Call for Papers. We are accepting submissions for our new season of online workshops taking place from 26 January 2027 to 4 May 20…
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Anita Gohdes @argohdes.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
We have another ✨amazing ✨ line-up for our autumn lecture series on AI and the global order! sign up here for one/some/all talks: fu-berlin.webex.com/webappng/sit... @scripts-berlin.eu
Flyer for the SCRIPTS FORUM Autumn Lecture Series. Full programme can be found here: https://fu-berlin.webex.com/webappng/sites/fu-berlin/webinar/webinarSeries/register/0917d7f4b12c4821aba6a59819d25f7c
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China Governance Lab @chinagovernancelab.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The Lab is pleased to announce the Graduate Fellowship in China Studies! We invite Master’s degree and PhD students across disciplines to apply for the 2026-2027 fellowship. Further details can be found on our website: shorturl.at/pGajF @onglynette.bsky.social @uoft-poli-sci.bsky.social
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China Governance Lab @chinagovernancelab.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The China Governance Lab is inviting UofT students to apply for institutional nomination to the Yenching Academy Fellowship. For more details about the application process, see: shorturl.at/4YWqr @onglynette.bsky.social @uoft-poli-sci.bsky.social
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China Governance Lab @chinagovernancelab.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Join us on Wednesday, Sept 30, 2026 – 3PM-5PM ET for our in-person seminar, “Hong Kong: A City of Law”, held at Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library @onglynette.bsky.social will be joining the event as discussant Register here: shorturl.at/WJqSw @uoft-poli-sci.bsky.social
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🇨🇦 CPSA ACSP 🇨🇦 @cpsa-acsp.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Call for Proposals #CPSA_ACSP27 ⏰ Nov 10 2026 📍 UBC-Vancouver-CANADA|May 26–28 2027 mycpsa-cpsa-acsp.ca/cfp/cfp_index @nsultan.bsky.social @annadrake.bsky.social @smsaideman.bsky.social @onglynette.bsky.social @profsarahchilds.bsky.social @kimbeaulieu.bsky.social @profsavage.bsky.social
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Dave Keating @davekeating.substack.com · 17/09/2026
“We are not fairweather allies," 🇨🇦PM Carney tells the 🇪🇺Parliament. "We do not pursue zero sum deals. Our commitment to the rule of law and our unyielding defence of human dignity, individual freedom and democracy share the same deep roots, the same unwavering dedication."
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NPR @npr.org · 16/09/2026
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday proposed making Canada the European Union's first associate member, a striking overture as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs drive Ottawa closer to Europe. n.pr/3UX0uMz
n.pr
EU's Ursula von der Leyen says she wants Canada to become an associate member
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday proposed making Canada the European Union's first associate member, a striking overture as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs drive Ottawa closer to Europe.
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PEIPolitical 🇨🇦 @peipolitical.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Former prime minister Stephen Harper speaks at Canada Investment Summit – September 15, 2026 #cdnpoli www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxxH...
youtube.com
Former prime minister Stephen Harper speaks at Canada Investment Summit – September 15, 2026
YouTube video by cpac
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PBS News @pbsnews.org · 14/09/2026
About 300 CEOs and senior executives from some of the world's biggest investment firms will descend on the Four Seasons in Yorkville, a tony Toronto enclave of high-end restaurants and designer boutiques, for Carney's Canada Investment Summit this week. to.pbs.org/4xqS5i1
to.pbs.org
Carney pitches Canada to global investors amid trade war with Trump
Carney is pitching Canada's energy and critical minerals, educated workforce, global trade access and political stability as reasons to invest.
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China Governance Lab @chinagovernancelab.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Join us on Monday, September 21st, 2026 – 4PM-6PM ET for our in-person seminar with @asiapacificfdn.bsky.social, “Theorizing Hedging: Southeast Asia, China, the US, and Canada” The event will be moderated by @onglynette.bsky.social Register here: shorturl.at/Z5B9r @uoft-poli-sci.bsky.social
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China Governance Lab @chinagovernancelab.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
The Lab’s Social Unrest in China (SUIC) research team has been tracking protest activity across China and found a notable spike in cases in July 2026 following the viral “Wang Wang” animal rights protests. Read our update here: shorturl.at/noH7Z @onglynette.bsky.social @uoft-poli-sci.bsky.social
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China Governance Lab @chinagovernancelab.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Join us on Thursday Sept 17, 2026 – 11:00AM-12:30PM ET for our virtual seminar, “Digital Governance in China: Featuring Joint Book Talks by Lizhi Liu, Daniela Stockmann, & Ting Luo” The event will be chaired by @onglynette.bsky.social Register here: shorturl.at/0UEZL @uoft-poli-sci.bsky.social
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Lynette Ong @onglynette.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Same reason why this is important for Mamdani. edition.cnn.com/2026/09/08/u...
edition.cnn.com
NYC Mayor Mamdani releases 9/11 records showing officials misled New Yorkers about air quality around Ground Zero | CNN
New York City has released more than 170,000 pages of previously undisclosed records about air quality following the September 11, 2001, attacks, showing city officials at the time knew conditions aro...
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susancampe.bsky.social @susancampe.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Mark Carney quote: “When the Americans stop doing memes, stop throwing shade, stop trying to be tough, and start being serious about having those discussions, we can have those discussions,”
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Tea’s Emporium & Co. @teasemporiumandco.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
His actions are speaking, louder than his words, folks, and his action should be concerning each and every single one of us. Talk about not giving a fuck about your descendants! www.desmog.com/2026/08/03/a...
desmog.com
As Climate-Fueled Wildfires Rage, Mark Carney Cuts Emergency Response and Funds Fossil Fuels
The prime minister should consider the potential outcomes of siding with his Bay Street buddies and oil industry bigwigs over climate-beleaguered Canadians.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 06/09/2026
When Gloria Steinem started Ms. magazine in 1971, most women’s magazines concentrated on how to keep a house and attract a husband. Her publication took a different focus: liberation. The magazine, the first owned and operated by women, revolutionized a generation of women’s writers and publishers.
nyti.ms
How Gloria Steinem and Ms. Magazine Transformed the Publishing Industry
The feminist icon insisted that women were not a niche audience — and proved it in 1971 with the start of an influential publication owned and operated by them.
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Lynette Ong @onglynette.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Come to our #APSA2026 panel on Saturday, 4-5.30pm. I will be presenting the CCP's "Repression through Complicit Society" during the Zero-Covid Policy. An LLM study using Weibo data.
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The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com · 03/09/2026
theglobeandmail.com
Everything we know about Carney’s investment summit
The high-profile nature of the event has many on Bay Street keeping close tabs on its agenda
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China Governance Lab @chinagovernancelab.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Our director, @onglynette.bsky.social, will be giving a book talk on "Outsourcing Surveillance" in #China at Jifeng Bookstore in #WashingtonDC this coming Thursday, August 27th, at 6pm!
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Milk Tea Alliance Calendar @mtacalendar.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
New event! 📆27th Aug 🕕6pm Eastern At Jifeng books in Washington DC, Book Talk "Outsourcing surveillance: Online Opinion management in China" w/ @onglynette.bsky.social "What began as the rumoured “fifty-cent army” has grown into a profit-making industry..." Reg: www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticket...
JF SALON 8/27 Lynette Ong
Outsourcing Surveillance: Online Opinion Management in China

Aug 27, Thur, 6:00-7:30pm, JF BOOKS in Washington DC

In English



We argue the effectiveness of China’s online censorship springs not from the party-state’s bureaucratic capacity but from its ability to co-opt market forces. What began as the rumored “fifty-cent army” has grown into a profit-making industry, as Chinese Communist Party committees and government agencies outsource digital surveillance and opinion management to private firms. These companies detect “sensitive” words, flood platforms with propaganda, and suppress troublesome posts with a technical precision the state lacks on its own. Surveillance is becoming more precise and preemptive, and so long as businesses find it profitable to collaborate, society will struggle to find a counterweight to market-enhanced digital repression.



Lynette Ong is Distinguished Professor of Chinese Politics at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs. She is the author of four books. Her 2022 book, Outsourcing Repression: Everyday State Power in Contemporary China (Oxford University Press) has won multiple accolades. Her research has been featured in The Economist, New York Times Editorial Board Opinion, New Yorker, Foreign Affairs and Washington Post.
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Tahar 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 🇺🇳 🇪🇺 @rochaa.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Mark Carney outlines 3 reasons why the negotiations collapsed: 1-concerning cars & automobile industry; 2-restraining Canada’s ability to enter into partnerships & deals; and 3-the cultural reason—i.e., Quebec & easy French language regulations We acted like a bully & Canada told us to go fish
youtu.be
FULL SPEECH | Carney explains why Canada suspended trade talks with U.S.
YouTube video by CBC News
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 22/08/2026
Crucial trade talks between the U.S. and Canada to stave off punishing new tariffs by the Trump administration on Canadian goods collapsed late Friday, with Canada saying it would retaliate “dollar for dollar.”
trib.al
Canada-U.S. Trade War Escalates as Talks Collapse
Intense negotiations to stave off new levies by the Trump administration ended in an impasse as Mark Carney suspended talks. U.S. tariffs on Canada, and retaliatory tariffs on the U.S., will come into effect.
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China Governance Lab @chinagovernancelab.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
The China Governance Lab is pleased to share its 2025–2026 Annual Report, reflecting on a year of growth across research, public engagement, and new programming. Read the full report here: shorturl.at/CXYxm @onglynette.bsky.social @uoft-poli-sci.bsky.social
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The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 19/08/2026
Breaking: Trump said he would pause a 50% tariff on certain Canadian goods for three days as negotiations continue.
on.wsj.com
Trump Pauses 50% Tariff On Some Canadian Products
The levies were set to affect 5% of Canadian exports to the U.S. and risked escalation into a broader trade conflict.
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China Governance Lab @chinagovernancelab.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
“The Stomach for Uncertainty: Professor Ong on Studying China from the Inside”, Interview with Clever Magazine. Read the full article here: shorturl.at/2VvFj @onglynette.bsky.social @uoft-poli-sci.bsky.social
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Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Beijing knows digital surveillance of the world’s most populous nation is technologically demanding. So the Party has hired corporations to occupy the “public-opinion battlefield” and spot the trouble before it spreads. muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
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Mark Carney @mark-carney.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Huge congratulations to Professor Jacob Tsimerman of the University of Toronto on receiving the Fields Medal — one of the highest honours in mathematics. Nearly a century after Canadian mathematician J.C. Fields established this award in Toronto, it comes home.
Screenshot of an article from CBC News. The headline reads: University of Toronto mathematician Jacob Tsimerman wins Fields Medal
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Ben Williamson @benpatrickwill.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
The anatomy of an AI-supported academic article is becoming more apparent. I desk reviewed ~70 manuscripts this week for our journal. Reckon 20ish had significant AI assistance. On top of hundreds of others recently I'm starting to see patterns. Are other editors are seeing the same or similar? 1/
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Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
"So long as businesses are willing to collaborate with the state, it will be hard for society to find a counterweight against market-enhanced digital repression." muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
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fravery.bsky.social @fravery.bsky.social · 18/07/2026
Algonquin Sunset" (acrylic on canvas) Artist- Monica Morrill
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The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 02/07/2026
In “How to Combat Transnational Repression,” published in @jodemocracy.bsky.social, Citizen Lab researchers @sanstis.bsky.social and @mmichae1sen.bsky.social write about the lack of accountability for perpetrators of transnational repression. Read: www.journalofdemocracy.org/articles/how...
journalofdemocracy.org
How to Combat Transnational Repression | Journal of Democracy
Authoritarians actively threaten, intimidate, and murder exiles and opponents wherever they find them. While justice for victims is hard won, it is possible. Here is how democracies can push back.
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Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Why has the CCP hired corporations to do digital surveillance on their citizens? muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
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Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
"Managing online opinion has become an integral part of the party-state's propaganda work. Every entity...and every administrative level down to that of counties, has a political incentive to keep a finger on the pulse of online public sentiment." muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
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Lynette Ong @onglynette.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
open.substack.com/pub/onglynet...
open.substack.com
#21 New rules in the Chinese Petition System - Interview with BBC Chinese
China implements new rules on petitions: Some scholars say "the ultimate goal is to reduce the number of petitioners in Beijing"
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Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
"The CCP, aware of social media's potential to amplify extreme public sentiment, continues to keep close tabs on online discourse. Despite the party-state's best efforts, however, heated online discourse can still ignite public grievances..." muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
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Scott L Greer @scottlgreer.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Free until 7 July says website, so grab it now
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Lynette Ong @onglynette.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
This JoD essay draws on our book, OUTSOURCING SURVEILLANCE: ONLINE OPINION MANAGEMENT IN CHINA. @uoft-poli-sci.bsky.social @chinagovernancelab.bsky.social Open access here: www.cambridge.org/core/element...
cambridge.org
Outsourcing Surveillance
Cambridge Core - Political Economy - Outsourcing Surveillance
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Reposted by Lynette Ong
Journal of Democracy @jodemocracy.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Beijing knows digital surveillance of the world’s most populous nation is technologically demanding. So the Party has hired corporations to occupy the “public-opinion battlefield” and spot the trouble before it spreads. @onglynette.bsky.social muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/a...
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Albert Pinto @70sbachchan.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
“Liberal democracies around the world are now among the most unequal societies ever to have existed in human history,” Jeffrey Winters, has a new book out! "The Blind Spot: How Oligarchs Dominate Our Democracies." Interview on @democracynow.org www.democracynow.org/2026/5/27/th...
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Canadian Bacon @tashaneedshelp.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
I’m not afraid of the woods, but the woods should be afraid of me.
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Lynette Ong @onglynette.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
#Pride #Toronto
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Toronto Blue Jays @bluejaysbot.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Happy Pride Parade Day, Toronto 💙🏳️‍🌈
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Governance and Local Development Institute @gldinstitute.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
GLD Fellow Lynette Ong (University of Toronto) has recently published a Cambridge Element, Outsourcing Surveillance: Online Opinion Management in China. It is available to download for free until June 24; download it here: www.cambridge.org/core/element...
cambridge.org
Outsourcing Surveillance
Cambridge Core - Political Economy - Outsourcing Surveillance
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Lynette Ong @onglynette.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
I I enjoyed speaking about "Outsourcing Surveillance" and interacting with a knowledgeable audience at the SOAS China Institute last night. Thanks everyone for attending.
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ASA Political Sociology @asapolisoc.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
🔔 New book alert - open access until June 24th Outsourcing Surveillance: Online Opinion Management in China, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Elements in Political Economy by @onglynette.bsky.social, Huihua Nie and Jesslene Lee Access here: www.cambridge.org/core/element...
cambridge.org
Outsourcing Surveillance
Cambridge Core - Political Economy - Outsourcing Surveillance
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