[1] Boxun is partly backed by the China Free Press project, which is partially funded by the National Endowment for Democracy, a US-funded organization.

Boxun was created by Meicun "Watson" Meng, who studied in the United States after working for two multinational companies in China.

[3] While the organization claims it is independently run and audited, critics – including German leftist magazine konkret – have suggested that it is simply a tool of U.S. foreign policy.

[5] In 2012, Boxun falsely reported that actress Zhang Ziyi was paid $100 million to sleep with top Chinese officials.

In December 2013, Boxun settled the case after agreeing to pay an undisclosed amount to Zhang and issue a front-page apology.