China’s ruling communist party has further tightened its control over speech, information, and thought among the Chinese people, announcing limits on what is allowed on Chinese social media. The country’s social media platforms in recent days have issued notices to users, requiring them to obtain “Internet News Information Service Licenses” or otherwise be banned from commenting on “politics, economics, the military, diplomacy, and other major news.” The notices explain that if a user does not have a license, they are advised not to compile, publish, comment and interpret any information on current affairs. The notices from Sohu and Baidu clearly state that users are now required “not to release such information without approval.” The notices added that the new rules “prohibit the development of such content without permission or beyond permitted scope.” Sohu’s notice also listed penalties for when the new regulations are violated. For reposting existing information, the notice …