Google blames Beijing for search breakdown
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Google Wednesday blamed China for a temporary breakdown of its service on the Chinese mainland, though no evidence was provided.
All queries on the search engine came back Tuesday as error messages. Some media reports speculated that the Internet giant had been completely blocked by the govern-ment, but searches returned to normal Wednesday.
Google initially issued an explanation Tuesday, saying a recent upgrade of its search code parameters worldwide, which added a "gs_rfai" string of characters as part of a modification intended to improve query results, clashed with China's cen-sorship system.
"Because this parameter contained the letters 'rfa,' the great firewall was associating these searches with Radio Free Asia, a service that has been inaccessible in China for a long time - hence the blockage," the company said, using a well-known term used to describe China's online censorship. But after reviewing when the parameter actually took effect, Google said it wasn't a matter of mistaken censorship.
"It's clear we actually added this parameter a week ago. So whatever happened (Tues-day) to block google.com.hk must have been as a result of a change in the great firewall," a Google spokesman said in an e-mail statement.
The company didn't do anything to fix the problem, according to the statement, implying that the Chinese government stopped the alleged blockage.
Regarding Google's flip-flop, an expert on Internet technology at the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications said on condition of anonymity that Google is promoting itself by hyping its row with China.
"Based on Google's explanation, whenever there is a problem with its service in China, it is caused by censorship," the expert said. "People in the company must think they are winning everything by blaming China - more media coverage, support from the US government and the fame of a 'freedom fighter.' Even though it has re-routed its server to Hong Kong, many people on the mainland still use it. Google is really enjoying its clash with the Chinese government."
However, Jin Canrong, vice dean at the School of International Studies of Renmin University of China, said Google's actions have come at a price.
"On Monday, the company reported some problems with its mobile Internet service in China, which was caused by the termination of its deal with China Unicom," Jin said. "In fact, many businesses are concerned about Google's future on the mainland and might drop their connections with Google searches. That's something we call collateral damage."
"Google's withdrawal from the mainland provides opportunities for others. China's Internet market will continue developing without Google," Jin added. "So it is still too early to say who is the winner."
