Google's Gmail is Blocked in China: Activists claim the Government is Responsible

Gmail users have been unable to access accounts in China since Friday across the country. This cut out was observed by Google data traffic that china services dropped on 26 December. Users are still reporting issues but number of people affected isn't known.

It is said to be a move by the Chinese government to crack down on outside web services but the Chinese Foreign Ministry has denied any involvement in the block.

The block was reported by GreatFire.org - a China-based freedom of speech advocacy group - and was later confirmed by Dyn Research group, and Google’s Transparency Report. Google's report tracks and monitors ongoing disruptions to Google services around the globe.

Users are still reporting problems this morning - but the exact number of affected accounts is not known.

‘I think the government is just trying to further eliminate Google's presence in China and even weaken its market overseas,’ said a member of GreatFire.org, who used a pseudonym.

‘Imagine if Gmail users might not get through to Chinese clients. 

'Many people outside China might be forced to switch away from Gmail.’

And a Singapore-based spokeman for Google said: ‘We've checked and there's nothing wrong on our end.'

Meanwhile, facebook and twitter services are blocked in China.