Gmail service shut down in China amid mounting pressure against Google

Gmail was completely blocked in China recently, suggesting that authorities may have plugged some gaps that previously allowed internet users limited access to Google’s e-mail service.

Anti-censorship advocate group GreatFire.org, blaming the country’s so-called Great Firewall, said large numbers of Gmail web addresses were cut off in China starting on Friday.

Many users said the service was still down on Monday, but others reported they had on-and-off access to their accounts.

Almost all of Google’s services have been heavily disrupted in China since June, but until last week Gmail users could still access emails downloaded via protocols like IMAP, SMTP and POP3. These had let people communicate using Gmail on apps like the Apple iPhone’s Mail and Microsoft Outlook.

Gmail’s setback could make e-mail communication difficult for companies operating in China which use Google’s Gmail for their corporate email system, said GreatFire.

“I think the government is just trying to further eliminate Google’s presence in China and even weaken its market overseas,” said a member of GreatFire.org, who uses a pseudonym.

“Imagine if Gmail users might not get through to Chinese clients. Many people outside China might be forced to switch away from Gmail.”