Censorship of Google

Censorship of Google refers to the blocking or filtering of Google services by outside entities (typically governments), preventing users from accessing Google's search engine or related services such as YouTube, Gmail, Google Maps, and others. This is distinct from censorship by Google (Google's own removal or filtering of content due to legal demands or company policies), and this article deals only with restrictions imposed on Google by external authorities. (Censorship of YouTube is mentioned here but covered in more detail in the relevant article).

Driven by political and religious considerations, Google's services have been subject to censorship in various countries around the world, ranging from temporary blocks of specific services to nationwide bans of all Google products. Notably, the most extensive censorship occurs under the "Great Firewall" in China, but a number of other countries – including Iran, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Russia, and others – have at times blocked Google or its subsidiaries for political, religious, or security reasons. These restrictions have evolved over time, with some being lifted or eased and others becoming permanent, in line with each government's internet control policies.

Censorship of Google (in particular, of its YouTube service) is observed predominantly in authoritarian and semi-authoritarian countries that seek to control citizens' access to information. The methods range from total blocking of Google (as seen in China and North Korea) to temporary or service-specific bans (as seen in countries like Iran and Turkey) to regulatory pressure and filtering (as in Russia and many countries).

In 2010 Google claimed to suffer various levels of censorship in 25 countries.