China blocks loophole access to Gmail

After months of increased internet censorship, the Chinese government over the weekend snuffed out a way for people to indirectly access Google's popular email client, Gmail.

Beijing on Friday began blocking access to Gmail through third-party email clients, which people previously used to circumvent the so-called Great Firewall's censorship. China blocked direct access to Gmail and other websites ahead of last summer's 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.

Though China has remained mum about the latest censorship, Google reported a steep drop off in traffic from China beginning Friday.

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