China Reportedly Blocks Gmail

(RTTNews) - China has apparently blocked Gmail access to its citizens. The block follows months of disruptions that prompted many users to route their mail through third party clients. Now, users aren't able to access the service at all. Data from Google showed that traffic to Gmail has dropped to zero from Chinese servers, according to the New York Times.

"We've checked and there's nothing wrong on our end," Google said in a statement.

The Chinese government had previously blocked Google's search and map functions in order to limit access to foreign news services.

"I think the government is just trying to further eliminate Google's presence in China and even weaken its market overseas," an anonymous representative of GreatFire.org told Reuters. "Imagine if Gmail users might not get through to Chinese clients. Many people outside China might be forced to switch away from Gmail."

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman told Reuters that she didn't know anything about the Gmail block.