Version of Google in China Won't Offer E-Mail or Blogs

[SOURCE: New York Times, AUTHOR: David Barboza]
Information wants to be free -- except if it speaks Chinese, of course. Google is bringing a special version of its powerful search engine to China, leaving behind two of its most popular features in the United States. In an effort to cope with China's increasingly pervasive Internet controls, Google said Tuesday that it would introduce a search engine here this week that excludes e-mail messaging and the ability to create blogs. Google officials said the new search engine, Google.cn, was created partly as a way to avoid potential legal conflicts with the Chinese government, which has become much more sophisticated at policing and monitoring material appearing on the Internet.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/25/technology/25google.html?pagewanted=all
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* Google to Censor Results On New Chinese Search Site
Google has agreed to censor its results in China, adhering to the country's free-speech restrictions in return for better access in the Internet's fastest growing major market. Because of government barriers set up to suppress information, Google users in China have been blocked from using the search engine or encountered lengthy delays in response time. The troubles have frustrated many Chinese users, hobbling Google's efforts to expand its market share. China already has more than 100 million Web surfers, and the audience is expected to swell substantially.To obtain the Chinese license, Google agreed to omit content that the country's government finds objectionable. Google will base its censorship decisions on guidance from Chinese government officials. Google officials characterized the concessions as an excruciating decision but said they consider it a worthwhile sacrifice.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/24/AR2006012401933.html
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* After refusing to turn records over to U.S. officials, Internet giant accepts self-censorship to set up in China
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/13706565.htm