Observed Signal · Jan 24, 2019 · Regulation · Source: OnlineMarketing.de · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Negative
Bing Blocked in China
On Wednesday, Microsoft's Bing search engine became unavailable in China. The government may have blocked the service using DNS spoofing, though the exact motives and duration remain unclear. Historically, Bing’s results in China were censored to comply with government rules, while Baidu has dominated the market since Google’s exit about nine years ago. Engadget speculated about DNS spoofing as the cause, and reports that Baidu traffic brought Bing down remain unconfirmed and unlikely. Microsoft confirmed awareness of Bing’s unavailability and indicated further steps. Skype has also been blocked in China since 2017. Some users reportedly regained access, and direct IP access to Bing was possible according to social posts. If the blockage persists, internet diversity in China could be further reduced. The situation underscores regulatory control over foreign search services and ongoing uncertainty about China’s internet landscape.
Regulatory action impacting access to Bing in China; potential implications for ad tech data availability and internet diversity.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Bing was unavailable in China on Wednesday.
- The government may have blocked Bing via DNS spoofing.
- Bing had previously been censored in China to align with government requirements.
- Baidu is the market leader in China; Google has been inactive for nine years.
- Microsoft confirmed Bing’s unavailability in China and said further steps would be taken.
- Some users reportedly regained access to Bing, and direct IP access was possible according to reports.
- Skype has been blocked in China since 2017.
Connected Companies & Entities
3 Entities mappedOntology Mapping & Concepts
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