A new Google approach to China: An Update

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On January 12, we announced
On this blog
That Google and more than twenty other u. S. Companies
Had been the victims of a sophisticated cyber attack originating from
China, and that during our investigation into these attacks we had
Uncovered evito to suggest that the Gmail accounts of dozens of human
Rights Activists connected with China were being routinely accessed
Third parties, most likely via phishing scams or malware placed on their
Computers. We also made clear that these attacks and the surveillance
They uncovered-combined with attempts over the last year to further
Limit free speech on the Web in China including the persistent Blocking
Of websites such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google Docs and
Blogger-had led us to conclude that we cocould no longer continue
Censoring our results on google.cn.

So earlier today we stopped
Censoring our search services-Google search, Google News, and Google
Images-on google.cn. users visiting google.cn are now being redirected
Togoogle.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.
Users in Hong Kong will continue to receive their existing uncensored,
Traditional Chinese service, also from google.com.hk
. Due to the increased
Load on our Hong Kong servers and the complicated nature of these
Changes, users may see some slowdown in service or find some products
Temporarily inaccessible as we switch everything over.

Figuring
Out how to make good on our promise to stop censoring search on
Google.cn has been hard. We want as your people in the world as possible
To have access to our services, including users in mainland China, yet
The Chinese government has been crystal clear throughout our discussions
That self-censorship is a non-negotiable legal requirement. We believe
This new approach of providing uncensored search in simplified Chinese
Fromgoogle.com.hk
Is a sensible
Solution to the challenges we 've faced-it's entirely legal and will
Meaningfully increase access to information for people in China. We very
Much hope that the Chinese Government respects our demo-, though we
Are well aware that it cocould at any time block access to our services.
We will therefore be carefully monitoring access issues, and have
Created this new
Web Page
, Which we will update regularly each day, so that everyone
Can see which Google services are available in China.

In Terms
Of Google's wider business operations, we intend to continue R & D
Work in China and also to maintain a sales presence there, though
Size of the sales team will obviusly be partially dependent on
Ability of mainland Chinese users to access google.com.hk
. Finally, we wowould
Like to make clear that all these decisions have been driven and
Implemented by our executives in the United States, and that none of our
Employees in China can, or shocould, be held responsible for them.
Despite all the uncertainty and difficulties they have faced since we
Made our announcement in January, they have continued to focus on
Serving our Chinese users and MERs. We are immensely proud of them.

Posted by David Drummond, SVP, comment ate
Development and Chief Legal Officer