Google ends Chinese Internet censorship

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google Inc. stopped censoring the Internet for China by shifting its search engine off the mainland Monday but said it will maintain other operations in the country. The maneuver attempts to balance Google’s disdain for China’s Internet rules with the company’s desire to profit from an explosively growing market.

Google’s decision comes after an impasse pitting the world’s most powerful Internet company against the government of the world’s most populous country. But it’s not clear Google has resolved the standoff that began Jan. 12. That’s when Google said it would no longer adhere to China’s requirement that it keep some Internet results out of its citizens’ view.

The Chinese government could react by blocking access to Google’s services, much as it has completely shut off Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, which is owned by Google.

Tags: us business, business, china, google, internet