Abstract:  Digital inclusion is increasingly recognised as a critical dimension of social inclusion, particularly in contexts undergoing rapid technological transformation such as China. Despite the Chinese government’s substantial investment in digital infrastructure, equitable access and meaningful participation remain elusive for many incarcerated lived experiencers. Drawing on narrative interviews with 18 people who used heroin and are navigating community‐based rehabilitation after incarceration, this study investigates their everyday encounters with digital exclusion. Through a digital inclusion lens, we identify key barriers, including structural distrust, residual surveillance, and algorithmic classification, which collectively amount to a condition of “digital death.” This form of exclusion is not merely rooted in personal incapacity or behavioural deviance, but rather emerges from institutional silences and systemic absences in both rehabilitation policy and digital governance. We argue that digital inclusion must be integrated into China’s rehabilitation and Huiguishehui (returning to society) frameworks, repositioning it as an essential component of social reintegration and inclusive citizenship.

Keywords:  community‐based rehabilitation; digital inclusion; exclusion; narrative; people who used heroin

Published:   24 June 2026

Issue:   Vol 14 (2026): Digital Inclusion During and After Incarceration: A Global Perspective (In Progress)