World’s largest online search engine Google Inc has ended four years of censoring to China’s Internet searches when it finally pulled the plug to the mainland on Monday.
But despite the parting of ways with the Chinese government, Google said that it will still maintain other operations in the country.
Many of the experts said that the company’s move to maintain operations in China is part of a maneuver that would balance the effect of the removal of the search engine blockade. They added that maintaining balance would help Google to hold ground in the fastest growing online market in the world.
It will be recalled that Google and the Chinese government engaged in a heated argument over the decision of the online giant to pull out from the mainland. Up to now, no clear indications were being presented by both sides whether the issue has already been resolved.
Google said that it will no longer block Internet searches in China. But the government retaliated by threatening the online giant that it would face sanction if it will not adhere the country’s Internet rules.
As of Monday, online users of the old Google service in China (Google.cn) are now being redirected to the Chinese-based online service in Hong Kong where China has no control over the online search results.
Users were greeted by the Google HK homepage with an announcement “Welcome to Google Search in China’s new home.” Millions of users were also surprised when they can now view otherwise limited searches.
However, many of the users still can’t view blocked search results inside mainland China after a massive filtering campaign of the Chinese government in line with Google’s pull out.
In a related development, Google said that it is keeping its engineering and sales offices in the country to gather technological advancements, adding that it will continue to sell advertisements to its Chinese version of its search engine in the US.
Google also said that it will maintain its mapping and music services in the country.
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