• Washington Post, Friday, March 19, 2010 2:33 PM

The Washington Post examines the cultural implications of Google pulling out of China. While many citizens tell the paper they support the search giant's decision to challenge the Chinese government on the issue of censorship, "they also said its departure would make them feel even more marginalized to the borders of Chinese society, stuck between a state committed to controlling information and a freer outside world." Still, it does "appear certain" that Google is following through with its threat to close at least its Google.cn search engine, reports WaPo.

It cites The Chinese Business News newspaper, which on Friday quoted an unidentified business agent close to Google as saying the firm would cease some operations in April. Of particular note, WaPo addes that Google's departure would mark the first time that a major corporation has left China since Levi Strauss jeans, which reported left in '93 over human rights issues. For better or worse, Levi Strauss returned in 2008.

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