Various sources are reporting that Google ignored a cut-off date to re-register as an Internet content provider in China. The company has also stopped censoring search results.
This morning Charles Arthur wrote that Google “missed a deadline to re-register as an ‘internet content provider’ (ICP) in China last night, which observers say is a sign that it is preparing to shut down its search engine there.”
Adrienne Mong commented on Google not censoring search results by writing, “Web sites dealing with subjects such as the Tiananmen Square democracy protests, Tibet and regional independence movements could all be accessed through Google’s Chinese search engine Tuesday . . .”
Google hasn’t comment much during any of this. In fact, a spokesperson told Arthur that the company has until the end of March before they have to re-register. Another spokesperson told Mong nothing has changed.