Baidu Has a New Tool That Lets You Check Which Sites Are Blocked

By Emily Guzman

Chinese search engine giant Baidu has developed a new tool to help businesses conquer the Great Firewall of China — without breaking any laws.

China's internet users have long since been plagued by tight restrictions on content. Websites and search engines like Google, Instagram and Facebook are all restricted, much to the dismay of expats and visitors. Internet restrictions and policies are subject to overnight changes with little to no warning, which makes maintaining websites a full-time task for many businesses.

That's where this new tool comes in.

Developed in collaboration with LXR, a Tokyo-based firm that produces Chinese websites, the service can conduct thorough diagnostics checks for Japanese businesses eager to tap into the massive Chinese user base. While similar English-language services have already been available for some time (see: Comparitech, Great Firewall of China), this platform is the first to be provided directly by a Chinese company in compliance with the country's internet censorship laws.

The tool analyzes the domain and the underlying code of a website to show if the site is blocked in China and if the code is in line with current government regulations.

It can also help improve websites, by relaying information about slow-downloading or absent content. Additionally, it can tell you if the site's coding syntax is compatible with government policies.

If you want to see how your site will fare in China, the service also offers a comprehensive report that includes projections and suggestions for China-friendly alternatives to services like Facebook Messenger and Youtube.

Checking to see if a platform is available for use in Mainland China is free of cost, but the in depth analysis will set a company back RMB20,419 (USD3,090).

Check it out at lxr.co.jp/report (in Japanese).

[Cover image via Google]      

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