Authoritarian Connectivity: Chinese Business Elites and Internet Control in Africa

We examine how Chinese business elites shape internet governance in African autocracies through transnational corporate networks. While research highlights China’s digital infrastructure projects, less is known about elite actors who diffuse digital control practices abroad. Drawing on international political economy, we argue that Chinese corporate elites embedded in global board networks act as conduits of digital authoritarianism. Influence flows through relational power rooted in interlocking board positions, shared career paths, and institutional affiliations. Using matched datasets from TOSCO and BoardEx, we map indirect ties between African internet service providers and Chinese corporate elites. We find especially dense linkages among firms in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), identifying BRI networks as key channels of transnational influence. To assess political effects, we employ a difference-in-differences design with V-Dem data. We hypothesize that ISPs connected to Chinese elite networks are more likely to adopt repressive digital practices in support of incumbent regimes. Our study underscores the role of transnational business elites in constructing digital authoritarian infrastructures and advancing China’s global information strategy, contributing new insights into authoritarian diffusion and global internet control.