Google prods US government to take China’s web censorship to WTO

The US government is mulling Google's suggestion of taking the Chinese government censorship of Google to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The internet giant is now making a case that China's internet censorship is an unfair barrier to trade.

According to a Bloomberg report, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) is in talks with industry groups regarding China's Internet policies, which was confirmed by the USTR spokeswoman Carol Guthrie yesterday.

Two industry groups, the California First Amendment Coalition, a free speech group with ties to Google and the Computer & Communications Industry Association, a technology industry group have told the USTR that China's restrictions on Web access and content discriminate against US Internet companies and online commerce.

The First Amendment Coalition, where Google's deputy general counsel Nicole Wong is a director, was asked by the USTR to present additional information on the paper it had submitted in January outlining legal precedents for attacking China's internet curbs at the WTO.

The two industry groups are saying that China's policies on internet restrictions are discriminatory as they favour local companies, in violation of WTO trade rules.