Google Threatens to Quit China Over Hacking, Internet Censorship

BEIJING—Internet giant Google threatened to close its Chinese operations and stop censoring search results on its Chinese search site after announcing Jan. 13 that China-based hackers had attacked its corporate infrastructure to steal protected information and target human-rights activists.

The news was an unprecedented public slap at China’s government by a major U.S. company doing business in China. U.S. companies typically negotiate sensitive issues like government censorship in private and rarely offer pointed public criticism, especially of the government. Hence, speculation that Google’s very outspoken condemnation of China’s policies signals an end to its business in China.

It is unclear ...