Wednesday, Aug 5, 2009    Text size: 

Baidu now has overtaken Google as the No. 1 search engine, according to NetApplications, which shows Baidu began gaining search market share late last year and that Google.cn started slipping in March.

Chinese authorities earlier this year criticized Google, Baidu and other Chinese Internet services for directing surfers to content considered illegal.

And just last month, China temporarily blocked Google access. Google.cn has restored its search functions, but search services for foreign sites are still unavailable.

Last week, China's Ministry of Public Security told the country’s official news agency Xinhua that it not only will continue restrictions against online adult content, but it will beef up enforcement with the help of nine different agencies.