History Main / BannedInChina

* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': Episodes centering around Finn losing his arm refused broadcast by Cartoon Network in Poland due to its disturbing content.

* Various popular websites have frequently been banned or censored in numerous countries around the world for political reasons. They include {{Website/Facebook}} ([[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_Facebook]]), {{Website/Twitter}} ([[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_Twitter]]), {{Website/Wikipedia}} ([[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_Wikipedia]]), and Website/YouTube ([[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_YouTube]]), just to name a few.

* The WebAnimation/OverSimplified videos on Adolf Hitler are blocked on Website/YouTube in some of the European countries, for [[AdolfHitlarious obvious]] [[NoSwastikas reasons.]] This fact is even acknowledged during some of the [=NordVPN=] sponsor sections in some videos. [[https://i.imgur.com/c15z4YM.png Here's the full list of countries which banned the videos.]]

* In response to the skirmish between Indian and Chinese troops that occurred in June 2020 and out of security concerns, the Indian government has banned 59 Chinese mobile apps, including Website/{{TikTok}}, [=WeChat=], Clash of Kings and Mobile Legends.

Unlike neighboring China, Vietnam does not block many websites -- in fact, Website/{{Facebook}}, Website/YouTube, Website/{{Twitter}} and other major Western sites can be easily accessible. However, being a socialist state, censorship is still pervasive, and there are still a number of websites blocked there:

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXVI'' is banned in Saudi Arabia, and the [[https://twitter.com/vgar_sa/status/1653711143528181760 only official explanation given]] by the country's General Commission for Audiovisual Media is that Square Enix refused to make the necessary modifications to the game for it to be approved, without actually specifying what those modifications actually are.

* The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council once [[https://www.cbsc.ca/news-releases/page/power-rangers-too-violent-says-ontario-council declared]] ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' to be too violent for children's programming, which resulted in the series being barred from airing on Canadian airwaves.[[note]]Later on, they [[https://www.cbsc.ca/news-releases/page/content-of-power-rangers-wild-force-series-is-not-problematicsays-canadian-broadcast-standards-council declared]] that ''Series/PowerRangersWildForce'' was not too violent, unlike the original series.[[/note]] The ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' franchise was also once banned from TV in New Zealand after its first season (until the ''Series/PowerRangersSamurai'' season) due to complaints from parents whose children injured themselves trying to imitate the show's fight scenes. What's weird is that every series from ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm'' onward is filmed on location in New Zealand with New Zealand-born actors and actresses. Also, while the ''Power Rangers'' franchise wasn't outright banned in Malaysia (although there are episodes that are withheld from broadcast), the Malaysian censors rather hilariously refused to allow use of the word "morphin'", largely due to outcry from [[MoralGuardians helicopter mums]] that the word was too close to the word "morphine" and would [[InsaneTrollLogic convince young viewers to use drugs]]. The title was initially restored with the [[Film/PowerRangers2017 2017 reboot film,]] only to be cut again several weeks later because said MoralGuardians staged a protest again.

** "Lucky Stars" was banned due to the plot revolving around supersitions related to romance.
* Along with some other Western European countries like Germany and Italy, ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyRainbowRoadtrip'' is banned in France for an unknown reason, despite the country's lenient censorship laws.

* The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council once [[https://www.cbsc.ca/news-releases/page/power-rangers-too-violent-says-ontario-council declared]] ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' to be too violent for children's programming, which resulted in the series being barred from airing on Canadian airwaves.[[note]]Later on, they [[https://www.cbsc.ca/news-releases/page/content-of-power-rangers-wild-force-series-is-not-problematicsays-canadian-broadcast-standards-council declared]] that ''Series/PowerRangersWildForce'' was not too violent, unlike the original series.[[/note]] The ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' franchise was also once banned from TV in New Zealand after its first season (until the ''Series/PowerRangersSamurai'' season) due to complaints from parents whose children injured themselves trying to imitate the show's fight scenes. What's weird is that every series from ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm'' onward is filmed on location in New Zealand with New Zealand-born actors and actresses. Also, while the ''Power Rangers'' franchise wasn't outright banned in Malaysia (although there are episodes that are withheld from broadcast), the Malaysian censors rather hilariously refused to allow use of the word "morphin'", largely due to outcry from helicopter mums that the word was too close to the word "morphine" and would [[InsaneTrollLogic convince young viewers to use drugs]].

* The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council once [[https://www.cbsc.ca/news-releases/page/power-rangers-too-violent-says-ontario-council declared]] ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' to be too violent for children's programming, which resulted in the series being barred from airing on Canadian airwaves.[[note]]Later on, they [[https://www.cbsc.ca/news-releases/page/content-of-power-rangers-wild-force-series-is-not-problematicsays-canadian-broadcast-standards-council declared]] that ''Series/PowerRangersWildForce'' was not too violent, unlike the original series.[[/note]] The ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' franchise was also once banned from TV in New Zealand after its first season (until the ''Series/PowerRangersSamurai'' season) due to complaints from parents whose children injured themselves trying to imitate the show's fight scenes. What's weird is that every series from ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm'' onward is filmed on location in New Zealand with New Zealand-born actors and actresses. Also, while the ''Power Rangers'' franchise wasn't outright banned in Malaysia (although there are episodes that are withheld from broadcast), the Malaysian censors rather hilariously refused to allow use of the word "morphin'", largely due to outcry from helicopter mums that the word was too close to the word "morphine" and would [[InsaneTrollLogic convince young viewers to use drugs]]. The title was initially restored with the [[Film/PowerRangers2017 2017 reboot film,]] only to be cut again several weeks later because said mummies staged a protest again.

* Recorded music was banned in all places in 2005 because of the growing foreign influence.

** Strangely {{averted|Trope}} with Falun Gong's ''The Epoch Times'' -- it is well-known for bashing the Vietnamese government, and yet it is still accessible.

Unlike its close ally China, Vietnam does not block many websites -- in fact, Website/{{Facebook}}, Website/YouTube, Website/{{Twitter}} and other major Western sites can be easily accessible. However, being a socialist state, censorship is still pervasive, and there are still a number of websites blocked there:

* For an unknown reason, ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyRainbowRoadtrip'' is banned in some Western European countries, such as France, Germany and Italy, despite the countries' lenience on censorship.

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* Along with some other Western European countries like Germany and Italy, ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyRainbowRoadtrip'' is banned in France for an unknown reason, despite the country's lenient censorship laws.

* There is an urban legend about Franchise/DonaldDuck [[http://www.snopes.com/disney/films/finland.asp being banned in Finland]], because he [[HalfDressedCartoonAnimal does not wear pants]]. It's not true, and it's particularly amusing because Finland is so liberal with ''actual'' nudity that it could be the least likely country in the world to enact such a ban. As Website/{{Snopes}} details, the legend derives from a complete misunderstanding of a 1977 political blunder; Helsinki councilman Markku Holopainen had proposed that the financially troubled city stop buying Donald Duck comics for youth centres, but when he ran for Parliament the next year, his opponent spun this into trying to "ban" Donald Duck (and went on to beat him in the election). Some Finns did write letters to the Donald Duck magazine on the subject decades earlier, but the magazine put it to rest by publishing a picture of a ridiculous-looking duck with pants.

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* Along with some other Western European countries like Germany and Italy, ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyRainbowRoadtrip'' is banned in France for an unknown reason, despite the country's lenient censorship laws.
[[/folder]]

* Along with some other Western European countries like Germany and Italy, ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyRainbowRoadtrip'' is banned in France for an unknown reason, despite the country's lenient censorship laws.

* Vietnam banned the live-action ''Film/{{Barbie|2023}}'' film, alleging that several scenes display the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine-dash_line nine-dash line]] map of the South China Sea. Said line depicts Chinese territorial claims (of both the mainland and Taiwan) in that body of water, which are vehemently disputed by Vietnam and the other coastal countries (Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philppines).

** Strangely [[AvertedTrope averted]] with Falun Gong's ''The Epoch Times'' -- it is well-known for bashing the Vietnamese government, and yet it is still accessible.

* Pornography-- whether live-action or drawn-- is illegal in South Korea. The government blocks porn sites, redirecting users to [[http://warning.or.kr/ a webpage]] warning users that the content is illegal in South Korea. Many {{ImageBooru}}s are considered hentai, and are also banned. Also, the government once added [[PublicServiceAnnouncement Public Service Announcements]] to Korean VHS tapes to warn the viewers against the illegal videocassettes, which contain pornography (sexual and violent content). [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egW1tjQh_ik One of those promos]] even has selected brief clips of sexual and violent Japanese anime, which the Korean government bans for many reasons.

* Some of Music/{{Queen}}'s music used to be banned in Korea[[note]]But only in Korean media. United States Forces Korea played Queen without any issue on over-the-air channels easily accessible by Koreans[[/note]].

* [[Creator/LuisBunuel Luis Buñuel]]'s ''Film/{{Viridiana}}'' was banned because of its final scene, where the title character closes the door after her [[KissingCousins cousin]] enters the room and the film ends at that point. In the middle of the film, there was also a parody of the Last Supper made by homeless people (with a blind man as Jesus) and a scene where Viridiana's uncle tries to rape her [[spoiler:although he regrets trying to do it and later kills himself]]. This cost Buñuel his passport, and the movie only escaped because actress Silvia Pinal managed to smuggle a copy into the Cannes Film Festival, where it was represented as an independent film because neither Spain nor Mexico wanted to represent the movie.

** "Theme For A Dream" by Music/CliffRichard was banned for supposedly suggestive lines.
** "Hymne A L' Amour" by Music/EdithPiaf was banned because Piaf dedicated it to her lover Marcel Cerdan, with whom she had an adulterous affair at the time.

* ''[[Music/GiuseppeVerdi Un ballo in maschera]]'' was not performed in Sweden until the 1920's. When it was finally allowed there, it was [[AmericansHateTingle detested because of its historical inaccuracy]].

* Most motorsport racing, at least that involving cars, has been banned in the country since 1955 after the Le Mans disaster, when a crash killed the driver and 83 spectators. For several decades, the only car-based motorsport events allowed in the country were time trials like hillclimbing, plus UsefulNotes/{{rallying}} (which also doesn't involve direct on-course competition between vehicles, except when one car catches up to the one who started before it). Motorcycle road racing also falls under the ban, but off-road disciplines such as motocross have never been banned. UsefulNotes/MonsterJam (which had one event in 2006 at Hallenstadion in Zurich as part of an international tour) was surprisingly not banned. In 2015, the country lifted its ban on car-based road racing, but only for electric vehicles, in hopes of getting a race in the UsefulNotes/FormulaE series (which finally happened in 2018).

* UsefulNotes/{{Thailand}} actively bans written works that criticize the Thai royal family, and under Thai law, authors who attack the Thai king are subject to imprisonment. This is evident in the jailing of an [[UsefulNotes/{{Australia}} Australian]] novelist in 2008.

* Any film depicting the Armenian genocide (which, according to the Turkish government, officially never happened), anything critical of the military, and any newspaper, book, or film made by an ethnic Kurd or Armenian can have its creators charged under the article 301 of the penal code for insulting the Turkish identity. This is what happened to Hrant Dink, a Turkish-Armenian journalist based in Istanbul. He was murdered in 2007 for his views, and [[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6281193.stm major uproar ensued]]. They might be getting ''ever so slightly'' better about this, as Creator/AtomEgoyan's ''Film/{{Ararat}}'' was screened there, albeit with heavy edits, and amidst threats from nationalist groups.

* {{Website/Wikipedia}} was banned in Turkey on 29 April 2017, '''in every language,''' until it was finally unbanned more than two years later on 15 January 2020. [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_of_Wikipedia_in_Turkey Read more here]].

* ''Film/Bruno2009'', ''Film/Saw3D'', ''Film/LandOfTheDead'', ''Film/HostelPartII'', and ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' were (or still are) at one point banned in Ukraine for violence (''Saw 3D'', ''Land of the Dead'', and ''Hostel: Part II''), sexual content considered deviant by the Ukrainian government (''Bruno''), and subversive content/humor (''Bruno'' and ''The Simpsons''), respectively. Additionally, Ukraine was once threatening to ban ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'', out of the belief that it promotes {{ho|Yay}}mosexuality (The allegations of the show promoting homosexuality is a myth propagated by loony fans and conservative religious groups -- at least in America).

* As with other Arabic-speaking countries, anime shows that feature a girl as a protagonist, including many MagicalGirl and MagicalGirlWarrior shows, tend to get banned from the United Arab Emirates. This is why ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' [[NoExportForYou never got an official release in the United Arab Emirates]] [[LateExportforYou until 2021]], when Creator/{{Netflix}} announced that they will release ''Anime/SailorMoonEternal'' in the United Arab Emirates.

* While modern Russian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian censorships are relatively lax, back when these countries were united in the Soviet Union, it had a very extensive CulturePolice-type system that would even make the current ''Chinese'' one green with envy. Foreign films were graded particularly harshly; domestic films with the following ''might'' get past, depending on the situation. It was not uncommon for domestic films to be created, widely screened, and then censored or banned as well (like the 1930 epic ''Earth'', which was screened extensively and controversially before being censored).

* During the initial run of the 1990s ''Literature/TheMoomins'' anime on Yle, three of the 104 episodes were not aired in Finland: ''The Pirate''[[note]]due to the titular pirate threatening Snork Maiden with a knife, the Police Inspector swearing after losing his patience and the scene where Moomintroll feigns being poisoned[[/note]], ''The Imp''[[note]]due to religious concerns over the demon trapped inside the tree, as Finnish viewers would be much more familiar with the demons from Christianity rather than the demons from Japanese folklore, as well as the ending warning that the demon's tree might still be floating out there[[/note]] and ''The Birthday Surprise''[[note]]due to Little My's nightmare sequence, where she's transformed into a Stinky-like creature and the Moomin family, Snork Maiden and Sniff are laughing at her, which was seen as too scary, mean-spirited and non-Moominlike[[/note]]. These episodes gained a cult following due to their banned nature, and while they have never been broadcast on Finnish television they finally got a home video release in 2017 after the broadcasting rights switched over from Yle to Mtv who produced their own dub of the series.

* The Hungarian communist regime (at least post-1956) was much less ban-happy than other communist regimes in the area. They realized that by looking the other way regarding ''mildly'' subversive material they can provide a safe release valve to both the artists and the populace. (They still banned anything directly calling for the end of the regime.) Hungary had a significant hard rock scene during the communist era with even heavy metal and punk starting up in the late '70s and the '80s.

* Many anime featuring a girl as a protagonist, including ''Anime/CreamyMamiTheMagicAngel'', ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'', ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', ''Manga/SugarSugarRune'', ''[[Anime/OjamajoDoremi Magical DoReMi]]'' [[note]][[UnfinishedDub only the first three seasons were dubbed in Arabic]] and aired in Spacetoon[[/note]], ''Anime/PuniPuniPoemy'' and ''Anime/CardcaptorSakura'', have been banned from multiple Arabic-speaking countries over concerns about the promotion of Zionism due to frequent use of six pointed star symbology, sexual scenes (due to revealing outfits) or [[ValuesDissonance any elements featuring within the series that are against the Islamic law such as the depiction of magic]]. Though not banned, ''Cardcaptor Sakura'' in particular sold poorly among the orthodox and evangelical circles of Korean Christians. ''Anime/SailorMoon'' was never banned, but it was not dubbed, broadcast, or made available in Arabic until ''Anime/SailorMoonEternal'' was made available in Arabic-speaking countries via Creator/{{Netflix}} in 2021.

* While modern Russian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian censorships are relatively lax, back when these countries united in the Soviet Union, it had a very extensive CulturePolice-type system that would even make the current ''Chinese'' one says: "Whoa, whoa, whoa. That's too much!" Foreign films were graded particularly harshly; domestic films with the following ''might'' get past, depending on the situation. It was not uncommon for domestic films to be created, widely screened, and then censored or banned as well (like the 1930 epic ''Earth'', which was screened extensively and controversially before being censored).

* A regional judge ordered all telephone operators in Brazil to block [=WhatsApp=], the most popular messaging app in the country, for failing to turn over data as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation. The block was lifted some days after.

* The anime adaptation of ''Literature/HighSchoolDXD'' was initially refused classification in New Zealand, on the count that it "encourages and legitimizes the pursuit of young persons as viable adult sexual partners," until it was reclassified R16 (restricted to 16-year-olds and above only) in 2022.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Lightyear}}'' has been banned in 14 countries across the Middle East (including Syria) and Southeast Asia (including Indonesia and Malaysia) over a 10-second same sex kissing scene (with Commander Hawthorne and her wife), as the authorities in those countries consider LGBT characters and themes as offensive. It is [[https://www.thejakartapost.com/amp/culture/2022/06/15/indonesias-censor-board-says-it-has-not-banned-of-lightyear-despite-same-sex-kiss.html reported]] that Indonesian censors stated that they didn't ban the movie in the country,  "but suggested the owner of the movie think about their audience in Indonesia where an LGBT kissing scene is still considered sensitive." It was also [[https://eurasianet.org/kazakhstan-joins-club-of-countries-banning-lightyear-over-same-sex-kiss banned in Kazakhstan]] for the same reasons after the country's Culture and Sports Minister responded to calls from local conservative and religious groups to ban the film. Despite that, the film was allowed to be screened in Singapore as the ban was overturned in that country not much later, but with an [[SameContentDifferentRating NC-16 rating,]] and the film was later put on Disney+ Hotstar in Malaysia with an 18 rating and in Indonesia with an 21+ rating (over typical 17+).

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePrinceOfEgypt'' was banned in the Maldives, Malaysia, and Egypt. In the former two countries, it was because of Islamic custom of never portraying the image of the prophets, which includes Moses, his brother Aaron, and his father-in-law Jethro. In Egypt, it was mostly because of the villainous portrayal of Pharaoh Rameses, a well-respected historical leader whom the Egyptians hold to be separate from the Pharaoh of Exodus.[[note]]For anybody who's interested, historians say the Pharaoh of Exodus could be either Dudimose, Ahmose I, Thutmose III, Horemheb, Ramesses I, or Ramesses II, with both Dumidose and Ramesses II being the least supported theories among scholars in the field and Thutmose III being the most supported. The debate continues to this day. [[/note]] Malaysia has since rescinded the ban in 2001, allowing the film to finally went straight to video and air on Pay TV. Malaysia later had one local theme park play it regularly in their in-park cinema as well as on video monitors throughout the park in heavy rotation.