[Warren Pease]

It's about time. I hoped it might come down to this, but it sure took a long time—I'm looking at you google.

Official Google Blog: A new approach to China: an update

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 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. 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 many 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 from Google.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 decision, though we are well aware that it could at any time block access to our services.

[Oisín]

Now to watch as the government blocks access to all Google domains from Mainland China tomorrow morning …

[Warren Pease]

Sadly, that's probably be what will happen. I guess google.cn has only a few percentage of the search market there, so this may not be as big a deal as I had originally thought, with respect to impact on users there.

The Chinese gov't has done a good job censoring that I doubt the few millions of people who did use google.cn would suddenly start searching for info on Tieneman, for instance, in the short time period that the curtain is lifted.

[Doofy]

Hopefully, the Chinese government will send a crack team of commandos up to Mountain View and wipe out the whole bleedin' lot of 'em.

[BlueSky]

Bing will take up the slack.

[moonmonkey]

I hope this does not effect web access from HK, they could put their foot down if they wanted.

[iMOTOR]

Finally, the Chinese will be able to download hardcore.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by BlueSky 

Bing will take up the slack.

this.

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by iMOTOR 

Finally, the Chinese will be able to download hardcore.

Yeah, like that’s ever been a problem before …

[Sealobo]

Originally Posted by iMOTOR 

Finally, the Chinese will be able to download hardcore.

some of those western porn sites will get /. by a 100 million simultaneous connection attempts.

and let's not forget about teh chinese getting online with their phones; there are 500 mobile phone subscribers in China, more than the POPULATION of USA, Japan, and Germany combined.

[Oisín]

Originally Posted by Sealobo 

there are 500 mobile phone subscribers in China

Plenty of room for growth in that market, then.

(Seriously, though—is it not still the case that the vast majority of those subscribers are using phones with no Internet access? Last I was there, in May 2009, Internet-capable phones were still largely uncommon due to the pricing. One of my co-travellers had an iPhone and actually attracted attention from random strangers for it)

[Wiskedjak]

Meanwhile, in related news, Australia's government wants to *begin* Internet censoring ...
Google tells Australia its 'Net filters go way too far

[Doofy]

Gotta say I'm gonna go with Oz on that one. Google ain't their government. Yet.

[Sealobo]

o crap... i mean 500 million.

*headbang*

[dedalus]

Originally Posted by iMOTOR 

Finally, the Chinese will be able to download hardcore.

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