Google CEO Avoids Direct Answers on Censored Dragonfly Search Engine
Sundar Pichai downplays Google's censored Dragonfly project during a US House hearing, calling it merely an internal effort with no current launch plans. Meanwhile, Chinese internet users and some Google staff view the potential return positively.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai faces intense scrutiny over Dragonfly, a censored search engine app designed for Chinese users. During a December 2018 hearing before the US House Judiciary Committee, Pichai describes the controversial project as only an "internal effort" and states that the company currently has no plans to launch a search service in China.
When lawmakers directly ask if he is committed to launching a tool for surveillance and censorship, Pichai declines to give a clear answer. He instead emphasizes Google's mission to provide users with information and notes that the company explores possibilities thoughtfully, a stance that mirrors an anonymous pro-Dragonfly letter circulated among Google staff.
Despite the backlash in the United States, Chinese internet users react positively to the news of Google's potential return. Several technology news outlets on Sina Weibo highlight the benefits of the project, reporting that Google aims to follow Chinese laws and regulations while helping users solve the vast majority of their information needs.