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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Google 'may end China operations' | Google 'may end China operations' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Internet search company Google says it may end operations in China over alleged breaches of the e-mail accounts of Chinese human rights activists. | Internet search company Google says it may end operations in China over alleged breaches of the e-mail accounts of Chinese human rights activists. |
| It said it had found a "sophisticated and targeted attack on our corporate infrastructure originating from China". | It said it had found a "sophisticated and targeted attack on our corporate infrastructure originating from China". |
| It did not specifically accuse China's government but said it was no longer willing to censor its Chinese site's results, as the government requires. | It did not specifically accuse China's government but said it was no longer willing to censor its Chinese site's results, as the government requires. |
| Google said the decision might mean it has to shut the site, set up in 2006. | |
| Phishing scam | Phishing scam |
| Shortly after the news was announced, shares in Google fell by 1.9% to $579 (£358) in after-hours trading in New York. | |
| In a blog post announcing its decision, Google's David Drummond said: "A primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists." | In a blog post announcing its decision, Google's David Drummond said: "A primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists." |
| The company said its investigation into the attack found two Gmail accounts appeared to have been accessed. | The company said its investigation into the attack found two Gmail accounts appeared to have been accessed. |
| If, as seems likely, the government refuses to allow it to operate an uncensored service, then Google will pull out Rory Cellan Jones, BBC technology correspondent | If, as seems likely, the government refuses to allow it to operate an uncensored service, then Google will pull out Rory Cellan Jones, BBC technology correspondent |
| However, activity was limited to account information such as the date the account was created and subject line, rather than e-mail content, it said. | However, activity was limited to account information such as the date the account was created and subject line, rather than e-mail content, it said. |
| It was also discovered the accounts of dozens of US, China and Europe-based Gmail users, who are "advocates of human rights in China", appeared to have been "routinely accessed by third parties". | It was also discovered the accounts of dozens of US, China and Europe-based Gmail users, who are "advocates of human rights in China", appeared to have been "routinely accessed by third parties". |
| It said these accounts had not been accessed through any security breach at Google, but "most likely via phishing scams or malware placed on users' computers". | It said these accounts had not been accessed through any security breach at Google, but "most likely via phishing scams or malware placed on users' computers". |
| At least 20 other large companies from a wide range of businesses were similarly targeted, it added. | |
| In the coming weeks, Google said it would hold talks with the Chinese government to look at operating an unfiltered search engine within the law. | |
| The decision, it said, had been "incredibly hard" and driven by company executives in the US, not employees in China. | |
| BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan Jones said the attacks, coupled with further attempts to limit free speech, had led Google to reconsider its position. | BBC technology correspondent Rory Cellan Jones said the attacks, coupled with further attempts to limit free speech, had led Google to reconsider its position. |
| "If, as seems likely, the government refuses to allow it to operate an uncensored service, then Google will pull out. | "If, as seems likely, the government refuses to allow it to operate an uncensored service, then Google will pull out. |
| "That will leave other overseas web companies operating in China with difficult decisions to make," he added. | "That will leave other overseas web companies operating in China with difficult decisions to make," he added. |
| Google first launched in China four years ago after agreeing to censor some search results. | Google first launched in China four years ago after agreeing to censor some search results. |
| The move led to accusations it had betrayed its company motto - "don't do evil" but Google argued it would be more damaging for civil liberties if it pulled out of China entirely. | |
| Last summer, Google was at loggerheads with China after it was accused of breaking the law by spreading pornography. |