Google's just-launched search engine, Google.cn, censors websites that challenge the Chinese government's political sensibilities - but also social ones as well, blocking sites related to teen pregnancy, homosexuality, dating, beer and jokes, reports CNET. Moreover, despite Google's assertion that the suppression of some search results would be disclosed on search results pages, the site apparently often does not do so.

Google reps told CNET that some of the blocked sites or images were merely glitches, whereas others were in fact an attempt to comply with Chinese censorship laws. It said in a statement that its filters are "intended to block the minimum required to comply with laws and regulations."

However, Google's engine is blocking sites that Yahoo's and Microsoft's China sites do not, such as lesbian.com, date.com, and computer security site neworder.box.sk. A search on news at Google.cn for "Tibet" and "freedom" in English returned no results, while 144 appeared with the same search on Google.com.

China's extensive filtering process controls which overseas websites can be accessed. Foreign companies are expected to follow suit in building lists of sites to delete from search listings for China.

According to a September 2000 Chinese government directive, internet content providers must restrict information that may "harm the dignity and interests of the state" or foster "evil cults" or "damage the social stability."