Google would like to link the search behavior of the user to his or her phone number with its upcoming Chinese search engine. This should make it easier for the Chinese authorities to find out what citizens are looking for.
That reports The Intercept based on sources familiar with Google’s plans. The Chinese search engine, which has not yet been released and would be known internally by the company under the code name Dragonfly, would link search data to a telephone number. This could identify the user and make anonymous use of the Google search engine more difficult.
The search engine with the link to telephone numbers is said to be in development for Google’s own Android operating system. Censorship would also be applied by removing content that the Chinese regime considers unwelcome from the search engine. For the application of censorship and control, Google would like to cooperate with a Chinese company.
Last month, the first reports emerged that Google may be planning to release a censored version of its search engine in China after a long period of inactivity in the communist country. The reporting led to criticism from human rights organizations, after which American politicians asked Google for clarification. In an effort to allay the concerns, Google CEO Sundar Pichai previously said that the release of a Chinese search engine is still in an “exploratory phase”.