Since Google announcement that they were no longer willing to censor results on Google.cn; Google has been redirecting users to their Hong Kong search engine, Google.com.hk.
The Chinese government finds this redirect unacceptable and threatened not to renew Google’s Internet Content Provider license which is up for renewal on June 30. Without the ICP license, Google will not be able to operate its commercial website Google.cn.
To prevent this from happening, Google will make a small change to its Chinese website. Instead of automatically directing users to their Hong Kong search engine, they will be taking users to a landing page on Google.cn that links to Google.com.hk.
With this approach, Google hopes to renew its ICP license and continue to operate in China.
“As a company we aspire to make information available to users everywhere” Google said in a statement. “It’s why we have worked so hard to keep Google.cn alive, as well as to continue our research and development work in China. This new approach is consistent with our commitment not to self censor and, we believe, with local law. We are therefore hopeful that our license will be renewed on this basis so we can continue to offer our Chinese users services via Google.cn”
Tariq Ali is an avid follower of the search engine and Internet marketing industry for the past 10 years. When he is not working or playing with tech gadgets, you will find him swimming, biking or running.
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