Can China really block Gmail?
Source: Robert Foyle Hunwick
Google's email service has technically been blocked since the summer, but remained easy to access via third-party apps used on smartphones and tablets. So what has changed?
So is Gmail blocked or not?
The website has been blocked since the summer. However, it was still possible to access email easily via third-party apps used on smartphones and tablets. Those workarounds now also appear to have been shut down, although some users were reporting they could reach their email on Tuesday.
Why was the website blocked?
The block occurred in the lead-up to this year’s 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre on June 4, which saw unparalleled levels of harassment and paranoia by the security services
How do people deal with the block?
Many are so used to government interference in their web habits that circumnavigating these censorship efforts, through methods like proxy software, has become a part of everyday life. Because the block only affected the main website, and accessing emails was still unaffected on hardware like iPhones, the disruption was minimised.
Why does the Chinese government dislike Gmail?
The Party claims its economy is open to all companies, but demands terms that some companies find unethical. Google publicly pulled out of China in 2010, citing censorship and hacking issues, and relations immediately cooled. The Gmail block extends to all Google services. YouTube was blocked in 2008 for hosting footage of the Tibet riots.
Who does the block effect?
Millions of people. Almost every Chinese web user has a “QQ” messaging account with email, but many also use Gmail. Plenty of international and domestic businesses also use Gmail, as well as individuals, particularly those who spend time abroad. Some noted that the block coincided with applications for overseas universities �C which would be particularly bothersome to the families of government officials, for example.
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