Search Engine Optimisation Web Log (BLOG)
Editor: Matt Paines

| This News Blog is dedicated to bringing news, information and innovations targeting the Search Engine Optimisation industry.

Google seeks China compromise

Search engine Google is hoping that its latest proposals will win over authorities in China who have threatened to remove its license to operate there.

Until recently, the firm automatically redirected Chinese users to its unfiltered search site in Hong Kong to get round censorship issues.

Under the new proposals Chinese users will be sent to a dedicated landing page and clicking anywhere on it will send them to the Hong Kong site.

In practice, this will make little difference to Chinese internet users as searches for sensitive topics are still blocked by China's great firewall.

Despite this Google says that the subtle change was consistent with its approach not to self-censor search results.

The company is desperately hoping that the compromise will be accepted by Chinese authorities, as is the search engine optimisation industry.

As the world's most populous country with a rapidly expanding economy, it represents a massive market for thousands of businesses.

If Google is forced to pull out altogether, it would be a disaster not just for Chinese internet users but for the worldwide search industry.

Earlier this year Google threatened to do just that when it was the target of a sophisticated cyber-attack that targeted the email accounts of Chinese activists.

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