Rights groups urge no censored Google search app for China
More than a dozen human rights organisations respond to reports Google is planning to return to the giant Asian market
More than a dozen human rights groups have sent a letter to Google urging the company not to proceed with plans to provide a censored version of its internet search service in China.
The joint letter, dated Tuesday, describes Google’s search engine app for China, currently under development and code-named “Dragonfly” as representing an “alarming capitulation” on human rights.
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders are among the signatories to the letter, which calls on CEO Sundar Pichai to explain what Google is doing to safeguard mainland users from Chinese government censorship and surveillance.
“The Chinese government extensively violates the rights to freedom of expression and privacy. By accommodating the Chinese authorities’ repression of dissent, Google would be actively participating in those violations for millions of internet users in China,” the letter said.
Google exited the Chinese search market in 2010 .