Google Embroiled in New Chinese Row

Google today found itself mired in further controversy in China after local newspapers claimed its website was operating in the country without the correct license.

Newspapers claimed that Google, which alongside other US internet companies has bowed to China’s sweeping censorship demands, was being investigated by the ministry of information.

"[Google] has not obtained the ICP (internet content provider) license needed to operate internet content services in China," the Beijing Times reported, while China Business Times went described Google.cn as "clearly unlawful".

The US internet giant said its Chinese website shared a license with a local company, Ganjii.com, a practice followed by many overseas firms including Yahoo! and eBay, dismissing as "complete nonsense" allegations that the practice was unlawful.

"Google has a partnership with Ganji.com through which we have the required licenses to operate the Google.cn service in China. Google clearly displays its ICP license number on the Google.cn site," a spokeswoman said.

Google, together with rivals including Yahoo! and Microsoft, has been roundly criticized for submitting itself to the country’s far-reaching censorship laws.

Yahoo! has been accused of handing over details of two of its Chinese email users, resulting in their arrest, while Microsoft shut down a blog critical of the government.

Overseas internet companies claim that they are merely complying with Chinese laws and regulations, but critics say they are more interested in China’s 100 million-plus internet users, the world second biggest market outside the US.

The news came as Google continues to hold out against US Department of Justice request to hand over two months’ worth of search information.

US authorities want the information, which has already been provided by Microsoft and Yahoo!, to prove that filters are not doing a sufficient job in preventing pornography being seen by children.

In a court filing the company said it was "concerned" about the availability of adult material "harmful to minors" but said the government request was neither "acceptable or relevant".