Google Search Now Blocked in China
via Shanghaiist
However, the good news is that many people (we saw it on Kaiser Kuo’s Twitter, among others) are reporting they can still use Google via the search bar in their browsers or through GMail. And others have speculated that at least Google.com.hk is blocked only because its search URLs include “&gs_rfai=”. RFA, or Radio Free Asia, is an American pro-democracy and anti-CCP radio station and searches for RFA are blocked, so it’s likely that if that is the reason for the block, Google could undo it by changing the URLs that their searches result in.
Still, all of this is secondhand knowledge. We’ll wait on Chinayouren for the official report as Julen is the master GFW tester, but we’d love to hear four things from you in the comments:
- Where you are.
- Whether search works for you on Google.com.hk
- Whether search works for you on Google.com.
- Whether Google search works for you via a browser search bar, GMail search bar, or some other means.
Whatever the ultimate result of this Google block, you can be sure the media firestorm is coming. To keep track of all the sides and how they’re spinning things, Imagethief has got a handy chart for you!
On a small housekeeping note, you will notice we have returned the ability to rate posts. Enjoy!
UPDATE: Good news! Google has confirmed that the “rfa” in its search results URLs was what was triggering the block, so Google searches in China should be restored soon.
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Got the reset connection searching with my VPN off from Haikou, Hainan on google.hk and google.com.
It did work through the search bar in my Gmail, though.
I searched for “butterfly”
connection reset using google.com
connection reset using google.com.hk
shanghai
I’m in Shenzhen and it appears to be blocked by all means except though Gmail
In Beijing, absolutely zero Google search available. University network, if that’s in anyway useful for understanding what’s going on.
Can not search from google page, neither can enter google.es. From the search bar still can serach
Beijing
Using the search bar in my safari browser can get results, but everything else resets the connection.
Beijing
connection reset using google.com
connection reset using google.com.hk
search possible through browser bar (firefox)
search possible through gmail
beijing
connection reset using google.com
connection reset using google.com.hk
connection reset searching from within gmail
location: Chuxiong (2 hours west of Kunming), Yunnan
Oh ZF…. You could’ve looked relatively mature by just letting the local filters do their work and letting this blow over… but you just had to be a petulant, spiteful baby, didn’t you. Congratulations on handing the Anti-China Western Media another headline you dipshits.
In Suzhou.
Connection reset using google.com (noticed it auto-redirects through google.com.hk even when I search from my iGoogle)
Connection reset using google.com.hk
Works from chrome address bar
Works from gmail
Also noticed that while searching the term “search” in gmail, it again auto-filtered through google.com.hk and came up with results. Click the 搜索 button which brought up the rfa part of the address line and made it only partially load, but clicking it again took away the RFA part. It’d seem that it is, in fact, the RFA part that’s doing it.
However, what I wonder is if maybe the RFA part doesn’t kill two birds with one stone. (ie, send a little fuck you to google and prevent search for Radio Free Asia.)
Anyway, blocking google search through conventional means is somewhat crippling for me and is another drop in the bucket for why I’m now looking forward to returning to the US this summer, where I’ll be able to communicate with my friends and family without needless hindrance.
Chengdu
Connection reset with google.com.uk, google.com, google.co.uk
Still works through gmail search and firefox navigation toolbar. Like people pointed out above, it seems because the URL is different. Another search gets the connection error.
Amen for the VPN.
@ MAC: Can’t say I disagree. This is a perfect lose-lose situation. The Chinese people lose (no more Google) and the Chinese government loses (even MORE bad press on this issue).
NYT now reports that Google is calling this a technical glitch at its end: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/technology/31google.html?hp
Who knows, though. I can hardly evaluate the technical claim, but I suppose this could also be Google covering for the government to give them an out while they scramble to see if they can get the authorities to change their mind.