NEW YORK, June 15, 2026 — Human Rights in China (HRIC) is deeply concerned about the ongoing disappearance of internet censorship researcher Yiyan Wang (also known as Gaukas Wang) and calls on the Chinese government to immediately disclose his whereabouts and current status, and to ensure his personal safety and fundamental rights.
According to publicly available information, Yiyan Wang is a cybersecurity researcher and open-source contributor who has long focused on internet censorship, firewall technologies, and censorship circumvention tools. He moved to the United States in 2018 to study at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering in 2021, graduating summa cum laude. He subsequently continued his graduate studies at the university under the supervision of renowned internet censorship researcher Eric Wustrow.
Wang was an active member of the international open-source community. He has stated that since 2017, he has worked to develop technologies designed to help users circumvent internet censorship. On the homepage of his personal website, he prominently displays a well-known phrase from the early history of the Chinese internet:
“Across the Great Wall we can reach every corner in the world.” (跨越长城，走向世界)
The phrase originated from China’s first international email connection in 1987 and symbolizes the ideals of an open internet, free communication, and global connectivity. It also reflects Wang’s long-standing commitment to information freedom and an open internet.
Wang’s research focused on the Great Firewall of China, internet censorship measurement, censorship circumvention technologies, and the analysis of censorship and blocking mechanisms. Through academic collaborations and open-source projects, he has contributed to a broader understanding of how internet censorship operates and affects access to information.
According to friends and colleagues, Wang returned to China in the summer of 2024. Shortly thereafter, contact with him ceased. Since July 2024, his whereabouts have been unknown, and he has not been reachable through his usual public channels. His current situation remains unclear.
HRIC is unable to independently verify the reasons for Wang’s disappearance. However, given the Chinese government’s long record of targeting human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers, scholars, and individuals working on politically sensitive issues, we are deeply concerned for his safety and well-being.
HRIC calls on:
The Chinese government to immediately disclose Yiyan Wang’s whereabouts and legal status;
The Chinese government or relevant authorities to permit contact with his family and legal counsel if he is being deprived of his liberty;
The Chinese government to respect his rights to personal liberty, academic freedom, and freedom of expression;
The international academic community, cybersecurity researchers, open-source developers, and human rights organizations to closely monitor his case;
Anyone with information regarding Yiyan Wang’s situation or whereabouts to contact Human Rights in China so that his case can be further documented and effective international support efforts can be pursued.
Internet freedom and academic research should never be grounds for punishment. We urge the Chinese government to ensure Yiyan Wang’s safety and to provide information about his condition and whereabouts without delay.
HRIC also welcomes any information concerning Yiyan Wang, including details about his current situation, legal status, or other verifiable leads. Any such information may help clarify his circumstances and support international efforts to advocate on his behalf.
Signed,
Human Rights in China (HRIC)
June 2026
