Google Returns to China Following Month-Long Ban

Google has reportedly resumed full service in China, following more than a month of disruptions that stopped users from being able to access its search, maps and email features.

Censorship of the technology giant began in early June in the build up to the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, in what was the widest-reaching block on Google services to date.

It was believed that the move by the ruling Communist Party in China was an attempt to block citizens from accessing information about the atrocity that took place on 4 June 1989, in which dozens of protesters died at the hands of military and police personnel.

News of the ban being lifted first emerged when Reuters journalists reported being able to access Google Maps and the Google.com search engine.

Anti-censorship group GreatFire, which monitors sites blocked by what is commonly referred to as the Great Firewall of China, also reported that many Google services were accessible within mainland China.

It is not clear yet whether this is a permanent measure or simply a short-term glitch yet to be dealt with by Chinese censors.

Other major sites to have been hit by the Great Firewall of China include Facebook, Yahoo and Amazon, as well as major media companies such as Reuters, the Guardian and the Wall Street Journal.

Most recently, cloud-storage site Dropbox was blocked without warning or explanation from the Chinese authorities.

Google is yet to respond to a request for comment on the latest development.