Google founder admits compromises over China

SERGEY BRIN, the co-founder of the phenomenally successful Google internet search engine, has admitted that his company compromised its principles by bowing to Chinese censorship demands.

Mr Brin also admitted that the company was deciding whether to pull its service in one of the world's fastest-growing economies, where censorship by its Communist rulers is still rife.

He admitted that Google had agreed to the censorship demands only after Chinese authorities initially banned access to Google.

Mr Brin complained that rival search engine companies had accommodated what he described as "a set of rules that we weren't comfortable with," without any international criticism.

"We felt that perhaps we could compromise our principles but provide ultimately more information for the Chinese and be a more effective service and perhaps make more of a difference," Mr Brin said.

Google's China-approved search engine service does not allow access to what Chinese authorities regard as politically sensitive information - such as details about the June 1989 suppression of political unrest in Tiananmen Square.

Google's agreement with China has provoked criticism from human rights groups.