Following Iran’s Direct, China Blocks Google.

The Chinese government blocked Google websites today in what appears to be part of an escalating crack down on Chinese Internet users as the Communist Party goes through a leadership transition. Despite being the fifth most trafficked site in China, Google had previously considered leaving the Chinese market altogether this year in response to Chinese filtering and a cyber attack on Gmail servers.

While Google’s Youtube has also been blocked in China since 2009, today’s move affects all the particular core Google services, including Gmail, Play, Docs, Maps, and Analytics. The block on Google Analytics could have particularly complex repercussions for the world wide web outside of China because it means Chinese users will not be tracked on the thousands of websites with all the analytics tool.

Most reports indicate a fairly conservative economic and political prohibit may be taking power in today's leadership transition, signaling trouble for foreign companies performing in China–especially online, like The search engines. That conservative block already considers web 2 . 0 a thorn in its aspect, and likely won’t take as kindly to the kind of criticism now being thrown from outgoing Chinese President Hu Jintao over web 2 . 0. The threat of this unbridled freedom of expression may be the driving force behind the regime’s decision to block Google as well as other services key to routing Far east censorship: Users have also documented difficulty accessing virtual private cpa networks (VPNs) in recent weeks, a tool frequently relied on by users in China as well as other countries with limited online overall flexibility to bypass restrictions.

China isn’t the first country to block Google companies — their actions mirror Iran’s prohibit in September, which was only partially lifted to permit Gmail access after complaints via Iranian officials. While China and its Good Fire Wall are largely discussed as being among the most complex and restrictive Internet filtering regimes, Iran has been working towards cutting itself off from the web entirely and replacing it using a closet network. The equipment guiding that closed intranet was produced by Chinese company Huawei. The U. S. announced sanctions against Reza Taghipour, the minister guiding Iran’s internet censorship program, citing his role in jamming satellite television on pc broadcasts and restricting Internet on-line. It’s highly unlikely China will face similar repercussions for his or her online censorship.