Google Stops Censoring, Stays In China

Google on Monday announced it has stopped filtering search results for Chinese citizens - a move that flies in the face of Chinese law - but plans to continue operating in China.

The much-anticipated business decision follows the search giant's allegations in January that hackers from China penetrated its systems and those of more than 20 other U.S. companies in part to target human rights activists. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton later that month deemed worldwide Internet freedom a strategic priority.

"Earlier today we stopped censoring our search services--Google Search, Google News, and Google Images--on Google.cn," the company's blog states. "Users visiting Google.cn are now being redirected to Google.com.hk, where we are offering uncensored search in simplified Chinese, specifically designed for users in mainland China and delivered via our servers in Hong Kong."

Google officials said it was a hard call to make. The company wanted to offer unfettered access to its services, but the Chinese government recently told Google that the country would not negotiate the legal requirement that online content be censored. Google officials say the new workaround approach is legal and supports global freedom of information.

The company acknowledged that China at any time may block access to its services as a result of Monday's actions. Google's larger China-based business operations, including research and development and sales, are expected to continue. However, the sales force may be smaller if the Chinese government denies users' access to Google.com.hk.