Why Google might return to China, even if it means censorship

This week, reports surfaced that Google is working on a search app and a news app that will be censored to comply with Chinese laws. The new software could be seen as a turnabout of the company's previous stance against censorship that it has held for years, dating back to Google's decision to effectively pull its search business out of China in 2010. Google, at the time, said it was standing up against censorship. So what has changed since 2010, and what has stayed the same?

The Intercept broke the news of a censored search app on Wednesday, which would "blacklist websites and search terms about human rights, democracy, religion, and peaceful protest." Hours later on Wednesday, The Information reported on the news app. Both reports...

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