The Japanese search service established by Baidu.com earlier this year has been hailed as a pioneering effort by a Chinese internet company to establish a global presence. So why do Beijing’s shadowy internet censors appear to be blocking access to the new website?

Baidu is declining to comment on why baidu.jp cannot be accessed from within China in recent days, but industry observers are sure  the Japanese service’s tolerant approach to porn is the reason behind the block. As noted by bloggers writing in Chinese and English, baidu.jp’s main appeal so far appears to be Chinese internet users who find its image search function a better way to get hold of pornographic pictures than the main baidu.com service. (Take a look at the rather revealing user data on alexa.com here)

The block, even if maintained, will not upset Baidu’s business plan: Chinese vicarious thrill seekers are hardly the market the Japanese service is aimed at. And the block should make it easier for Baidu to avoid coming under Chinese government pressure to itself censor its Japanese service. After all, strict self-censorship of political or other suspect content has done the Baidu no harm at home (where it has benefited from blocking and disruption of uncensored Google.com), but it is unlikely to go down as well in international markets.

April 18th, 2007 in China, Internet | Permalink