Google Services Once Again Available in China, But Will it Last?

Jul 10, 2014 12:14 PM EDT | Matt Mercuro

Users in China have confirmed that they are able to access online services for Google once again after over a month of disruption that almost completely blocked people from using the Google features like its map and email services.

The disruption started in the run-up to the 25th anniversary of the government's crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators near Beijing's Tiananmen Square

China feels that it is right to control what people can and can't do on the internet, and wastes little time getting rid of anything that challenges the ruling Communist Party's leadership.

Users have said that they can access Google Maps and the Google.com search engine once again, which redirects to a Hong Kong version of the website, according to Reuters.

Anti-censorship group GreatFire.org also confirmed that Google's services appeared to be accessible within China.

"I'm not sure if it's a temporary glitch or a change of policy," said a member of the group who used a pseudonym, according to Reuters. "If Google indeed is unblocked, it's a big victory for free speech."

The member added that it was only a positive development if the internet search website continued to use HTTPS, which is a form of encryption for websites that ensures search phases can't be censored within China.

Search engines currently use HTTPS in China.

"If Google were to back down and disable HTTPS-by-default for Chinese users it would be a victory for the censorship authorities," the member said, according to Reuters.

Other services have also been experiencing disruption in China, including South Korean Naver Corp's Line and KakaoTalk, owned by South Korea's Kakao Corp.

Both services are mobile messaging apps.

Social media networks Facebook and Twitter, and Google's YouTube, have been blocked in China for years.

Google has not released a statement yet regarding the news.

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