Chinese citizens opposing the zero-COVID policy restrictions are defying government censors by using foreign social media to let people know about their protests.

Authorities are deploying police officers in major cities to suppress civil disobedience after massive rallies occurred in Beijing, Shanghai and elsewhere.

Censorship is apparently being tightened, as photos and images of the protests disappear from the internet.

The ruling Communist Party newspaper, People's Daily, carried an article on Tuesday that said bad internet information amplifies panic among the populace.

The article urged people to focus on information provided by the government.

Some citizens are resorting to virtual private network software to access foreign social media apps that are out of the Chinese government's reach.

One photo posted shows a sheet of paper with "freedom" written on it.

Another post demands a dictator's resignation, in a tacit reference to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In Shanghai and the southern city of Guangzhou, police officers are said to be forcing citizens to delete foreign social media apps from their smartphones.