China's Internet filtering regime may appear to be risky for providers

As the US Trade Representative's official reported to the US Congress, China's extensive Internet filtering regime for political, social or religious content is complex and ambiguous that creates risky conditions for providers.

This report was compiled before moved its Chinese search portal to Hong Kong from China this month in a censorship dispute.

The USTR official thus announced “changes to Internet filtering can occur without warning or public explanation."

"Chinese government authorities may issue lists of banned search terms or banned sites weekly, with little justification or means of appeal, putting Internet-enabled services in a precarious position, caught between complying with the law and implementing apparently arbitrary restrictions," USTR reported.