

Currently released so far... 960 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Secretary of State
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Browse by tag
CH
CE
CA
CACM
CDB
CLINTON
CU
CASC
CJAN
CM
CO
CIA
CVIS
CMGT
COUNTER
COUNTERTERRORISM
CI
CS
CG
CF
CD
CV
CY
ENRG
ETTC
ECON
EINDETRD
EPET
ETRD
EINV
EG
EUN
ELAB
EU
EAID
EFIN
ECPS
EAIR
EAGR
EIND
EN
ELTN
EWWT
EMIN
EZ
ENVR
ECIP
ET
EFIS
EXTERNAL
EI
ELECTIONS
EREL
ECUN
EINVEFIN
KNNP
KIPR
KDEM
KWBG
KN
KPAL
KGIC
KRAD
KJUS
KISL
KPWR
KGHG
KFIN
KTFN
KCRM
KHLS
KSUM
KPIN
KS
KSCA
KAWK
KPAO
KTIP
KCOM
KTIA
KBIO
KWMN
KCOR
KZ
KDRG
KAWC
KIRF
KACT
KFRD
KR
KU
KMDR
KSEC
KOLY
KE
KPKO
KSPR
KGCC
KPRP
KG
KUNR
KCIP
KHIV
KDEMAF
PGOV
PHUM
PREL
PINR
PARM
PK
PTER
PBTS
PREF
PL
PAK
PINS
PE
PROP
POL
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PO
PSI
PA
PINT
PGOF
PHSA
PSOE
POLITICS
PBIO
PECON
PEPR
PM
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09BEIJING1957, GOOGLE CLAIMS HARRASSMENT BY CHINESE GOVERNMENT
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09BEIJING1957.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09BEIJING1957 | 2009-07-12 23:11 | 2010-12-04 18:06 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Beijing |
VZCZCXRO5181
RR RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHBJ #1957/01 1932305
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 122305Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5129
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2513
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2173
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001957
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/CM - SFLATT, JHABJAN
STATE EEB/CIP - SFLYNN, FSAEED
USTR FOR AWINTER, JMCHALE, TWINELAND
COMMERCE FOR MAC
COMMERCE FOR ITA - NMELCHER
NSC FOR JLOI
EO 12958 N/A
TAGS ETRD, PHUM, PGOV, ECON, CH
SUBJECT: GOOGLE CLAIMS HARRASSMENT BY CHINESE GOVERNMENT
¶1. (SBU) Summary. XXXXXXXXXXXXX claim the company’s services have been blocked by the Chinese government periodically over the past three years. After users reported on June 18 that Google.cm search engine was not filtering returns for pornographic sites, the government on June 24 again blocked the company’s services for 24 hours resulting in the loss of 20 percent of its traffic that day.XXXXXXXXXXXXX believe the real reason for the government’s wrath is the company’s refusal to remove a link to google.com from the google.cn website. They argue doing so would be in violation of a commitment the company made with Congress. End Summary.
¶2. (SBU) In conversations XXXXXXXXXXXXX told ADCM and EconOff that the Chinese government has been blocking several of Google’s Internet sites periodically for the past three years. They said the blocking and other harassment had intensified in June 2009, purportedly because of the search engine’s failure to filter some inappropriate or illicit content found on the web.
¶3. (SBU)XXXXXXXXXXXXX said that XXXXXXXXXXXXX a group of Chinese Internet users reported that Google.cn was not effectively filtering pornographic sites. XXXXXXXXXXXXX said Google China representatives were called to a meeting co-hosted by the State Council Information Office (SCIO, responsible for controlling Internet content), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT, responsible for Internet technology and policy), and the Ministry of Public Security (MPS, responsible for Internet crime). The Ministries demanded Google provide better filtering on its Google.cn search engine and temporarily stop indexing sites outside of China. XXXXXXXXXXXXX The company refused this request.
¶4. (SBU) Google then experienced a wave of “attacks” in the media reporting that pornographic material could be found through the Google search engine. (Note: In the nine days following the June 18 incident, an incomplete list of reporting in the Chinese press contains 57 separate articles attacking Google. End Note). On June 24 servers in China were virally infected, causing them to redirect computers attempting to reach Google pages to an unknown web site. These attacks made Google services unavailable to many Chinese users for approximately 24 hours, and caused the company to lose 20% of its traffic on that day.
Lose the Google.com
-------------------
¶5. (SBU) BothXXXXXXXXXXXXX believe the real reason for the government’s wrath is Google’s refusal to remove the link to Google.com from the Google.cn website.XXXXXXXXXXXXX explained that, when the company decided to enter the Chinese market, it testified before Congress that it would agree to censor its search results in China as required by Chinese law based on three principles. First, the company would not store private user information so as to avoid persecution of individuals based on their use of Google’s services. Second, the company would disclose to users when a search result had been censored. Third, Google would maintain a link from the Google.cn homepage to Google.com.
¶6. (SBU) According to XXXXXXXXXXXXX, from 2007 through 2009 Google received numerous informal inquiries from the Chinese government as to the possibility of removing the Google.com link. The company repeatedly explained that it could not, based on its promise to Congress. XXXXXXXXXXXXX said the government, for the first time, verbally requested the company remove the link. Google China explained removing the link was not required under Chinese law and reiterated that doing so would violate the company’s commitment. This was the first time the company had explicitly denied a government request, XXXXXXXXXXXXX stated.
Pulling Out an Option
---------------------
¶7. (SBU) XXXXXXXXXXXXX said the June 24 blocking of Google’s services is only the most recent of a three year history of blockings. He noted the company’s You Tube service has been entirely blocked since March 24. He believes the company is being harassed. XXXXXXXXXXXXX said the negative press coverage and service outages have caused the company to lose market share. XXXXXXXXXXXXXsays the company is regularly audited by tax authorities, and XXXXXXXXXXXXX. XXXXXXXXXXXXX said that, faced with the continual
BEIJING 00001957 002 OF 002
difficulties of doing business in China, the company may even consider pulling out of the market.
¶8. (SBU) Comment. Google is the only international search engine still doing business in China. It is an important symbol. If Google were forced to withdraw from the market, the move could attract heavy international attention. End Comment.