The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[DewDiligence]

China ramps up pressure on GOOG:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/business/chinas-battle-against-google-heats-up.html

The authorities in China have made Google’s services largely inaccessible in recent days, a move most likely related to the government’s broad efforts to stifle discussion of the 25th anniversary of the crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square on June 3 and 4, 1989.

In addition to Google’s search engines being blocked, the company’s products, including Gmail, Calendar and Translate, have been affected.

…Unlike the websites of Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and The New York Times, which are reliably blocked by the authorities, Google services are being disrupted in a way that affects about 9 out of 10 Chinese users, according to GreatFire.org. By allowing some access, “the Chinese government is trying to pin the blame on Google,” the GreatFire co-founder said.

…In March, Google began encrypting what is known as search by default in China. The secure system permits users to conduct uncensored searches, an act the government could prevent only by blocking direct access to Google. The authorities have now locked that electronic door, unless Internet users have the right software to pry it open.