Google is now a four-letter word in China, where the Communist authorities are cracking down on the ubiquitous search engine and nearly two dozen other Web sites they say traffic in pornography.
"The government will continue to expose, punish or even shut down those infamous Web sites that refuse to correct their wrongdoing," Cai Mingzhao, deputy director of the State Council Information Office, told reporters during a teleconference Monday, according to the state-controlled Xinhua news agency.
"Immediate action is needed to purify the Internet environment," Cai said, according to Xinhua.
Thinking there was more going on than China is saying, 6 in the Morning did some research. And it’s clear the porn thing is a front for the real purpose of the crackdown: Keeping the Chinese away from nasty sports news.
To wit:
1. Speedskater Song Xingyu was banned from competition for one year after flipping off spectators Sunday at China's National Games.
2. China would rather its citizenry not know it’s no longer Patriotic.
3. Similarly, soccer fans are better off without the knowledge of their national women’s soccer team’s loss to the United States.
4. Hey, how old are the Olympic-champion gymnasts? Let’s Google their names. Wait .. what the …
5. It’s a good thing the age controversy in Chinese sports is in the past.
6. Why is Baron Davis wearing a Chinese gymnast's shoes?