Sundar Pichai: Google has no plan to launch its search engine site in China

Date:

Trending

Google has “no plans” to relaunch a search engine in China though it is continuing to study the idea, Chief Executive Sundar Pichai told a U.S. congressional panel on Tuesday amid increased scrutiny of big tech firms.

- Advertisement -

Lawmakers and Google employees have raised concerns the company would comply with China’s internet censorship and surveillance policies if it re-enters the Asian nation’s search engine market.

Google’s main search platform has been blocked in China since 2010, but the Alphabet Inc unit has been attempting to make new inroads into the country, which has the world’s largest number of smartphone users.

- Advertisement -

“Right now, there are no plans to launch a search in China,” Pichai told the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee.

But he added that internally Google has “developed and looked at what search could look like. We’ve had the project underway for a while. At one point, we’ve had over 100 people working on it is my understanding.”

Pichai said there are no current discussions with the Chinese government. He vowed that he would be “fully transparent” with policymakers if the company brings search products to China.

In a letter in August to U.S. lawmakers, Pichai said providing such a search engine would give “broad benefits” to China but that it was unclear whether Google could launch the service there.

A Chinese government official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters last month that it was unlikely Google would get clearance to launch a search service in 2019.

Pichai did not say what steps Google would take to comply with Chinese laws if it re-entered the market.

Under questioning from Democratic Representative David Cicilline, Pichai said he would “happy to engage” to discuss legislation that would empower the Federal Trade Commission to address discriminatory conduct online.

Cicilline told Pichai it was “hard for me to imagine that you could operate in the Chinese market under the current government framework and maintain a commitment to universal values, such as freedom of expression and personal privacy.”

The company’s rivals in shopping and travel searches have long complained about being demoted in Google search results.

Much of the House hearing focused on Republican concerns that Google’s search results are biased against conservatives and that the company had sought to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.

Democrats rejected that claim as “fantasy,” and at least one said the search results highlighted more conservative voices.

Pichai said the search engine attempts to help people register to vote or find a polling place, but rejected assertions the company paid for Latino voters’ transportation to polls in some states.

“We don’t engage in partisan activities,” Pichai told the panel.

THE SNAPSHOTS

Sign up to get quick snaps of everyday happening, directly in your inbox.

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

- Advertisement -

Support our independent journalism PayPal (Outside India) For PayU (For Indian Readers).

Krishna Mali
Krishna Mali
Founder & Group Editor of TechGraph.

More Latest Stories

More Articles

Loans in Crypto Wallet: Useful Feature or a Security Threat?

Integrating crypto loans into digital wallets is gaining traction, allowing users to borrow and lend crypto assets without the need for traditional financial institutions....

From Arcade to Adventure – The Evolving Face of Entertainment and Why It Counts

Entertainment has always been a reflection of the shifting expectations of society. Earlier, people used to gather around a campfire to share stories or participate in outdoor activities, building trust and connection with each other. Being communal events, they focused on physicality and face-to-face...

How Technology Helps Combat Various Viruses and Diseases

Technology has transformed the ways we approach vaccines, particularly for the flu. One noteworthy...

12 Eye-Popping Hacks to Make Your Next Business Presentation Sparkle

Business presentations are often necessary to gain new clients and showcase what it is...

The Impact of EdTech on Student Outcomes in Higher Education

The introduction of interactive whiteboards in the early 1990s marked a major shift in...

Meta Legal Head Offloads Shares worth $577K

Meta Platforms Inc.’s (NASDAQ: META) Chief Legal Officer, Jennifer Newstead, has sold 921 shares,...

HR Chief Amy Coleman Reports Over 46,000 Microsoft Shares in SEC Filing

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Chief Human Resources Officer, Amy Coleman, has reported her stock holdings...

BGC Group raises $700 Mn in bond sale to refinance debt

BGC Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: BGC) has finalized a $700 million private offering of senior...

The Long-Term Power of Investing: Selecting Undervalued Industries

Investing can seem overwhelming, especially for beginners, as the numerous options and strategies available can make it easy to feel unsure about where to...

Alphabet Legal Chief John Kent Walker to Sell $2Mn in Shares via Morgan Stanley

Alphabet Inc.’s (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Chief Legal Officer, John Kent Walker Jr., has filed to...

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Using Fonts in Your Design Projects

Fonts play a crucial role in every design project, from branding and web design...

‘Canada Ripping Us’: US President Trump Criticizes High Tariffs on Dairy and Lumber

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday slammed Canada’s high tariffs on American dairy and...

Empowering Growth: Boosting the Robotics Sector with Targeted Support

India's robotics sector is emerging as a key area of technological progress, driving innovation...

Software and Technology Changing the Industry

The advent of software and technological advancements has been a game-changer across various industries. From enhancing productivity to transforming operational dynamics, tech plays an...

Jensen Huang Offloads $49.8Mn in Nvidia Shares

Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) CEO and President Jen-Hsun Huang has disclosed the sale of 431,611 company shares, valued at $49.8 million. According to a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the transaction carried out on March 19, 2025, was executed at $115.43...

Canada, Australia Partner to Build $6 Bn Arctic Radar System

In a bid to enhance Arctic and national security, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney...

Meta Chief Legal Officer Jennifer Newstead Offloads Shares as Part of Trading Plan

According to regulatory filings, Jennifer Newstead, Chief Legal Officer at Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:...

Interview: Vserve CEO Siva Balakrishnan on SEO Secrets for Amazon Seller Success

In an interview with TechGraph, Siva Balakrishnan, CEO and Founder of Vserve, shared how...

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai Increases Stocks Holdings Amid Dividend Adjustment

According to a regulatory filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Alphabet...

Layer PR Wins SME News UK Awards, Expands to Bengaluru

Layer PR, a global public relations firm owned by TechGraph, has secured two major...

Google Acquires Wiz for $32 Billion in All-Cash Deal

Google LLC, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG, GOOGL) has signed a deal...
00:01:37

UK PM Kier Starmer Abolishes NHS England To Bring Health Services Under Govt Control

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to abolish NHS England and bring...
00:01:09

VIDEO: US President Donald Trump Calls NBC A ‘Worst Network’ On Television

During a press meeting at the Oval Office on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump...

From Startup to Success: Essential Steps for Landscaping Entrepreneurs

Starting a landscaping business is so exciting, blending creativity with the reward of transforming...

‘Canada Ripping Us’: US President Trump Criticizes High Tariffs on Dairy and Lumber

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday slammed Canada’s high tariffs on American dairy and...

Nvidia Director Aarti Shah to Sell Shares Worth $2.37 Mn

Aarti S. Shah, a director at NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: NVDA), has filed a notice...

Alphabet Board Member Frances Arnold Increases Stake Following Dividend Allocation

According to a recent regulatory filing, Frances Arnold, a board member at Alphabet Inc.,...

Elon Musk’s X Sues Indian Govt Over Content Regulation Clash

X Corp, an Elon Musk-owned social media firm, sued the Indian government in the...

Why Smart Cities Are the Future of Water Conservation

Water conservation has become an important factor due to climate change and worsened water...

Empowering Growth: Boosting the Robotics Sector with Targeted Support

India's robotics sector is emerging as a key area of technological progress, driving innovation...

VIDEO: US President Donald Trump Calls NBC A ‘Worst Network’ On Television

During a press meeting at the Oval Office on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump...

The Role of Edge Computing in AI-Powered Cloud Solutions

With businesses including artificial intelligence (AI) in their operations, cloud computing has grown in...

From Startup to Success: Essential Steps for Landscaping Entrepreneurs

Starting a landscaping business is so exciting, blending creativity with the reward of transforming...