In a BBC interview with Eric Schmidt, Google’s outgoing chief executive, Schmidt spelled out his ambitions for Google in China as well as declaring that the search giant will deny government attempts to censor WikiLeaks documents.

At the same time, Google has set about censoring the site’s auto-complete function for queries around torrents, as the search giant capitulates to big media demands. –JCL

The BBC:

Eric Schmidt — stepping aside as chief executive of Google — has told the BBC he has ambitions to promote the web firm’s business in China.

Among other tasks, Mr Schmidt hopes to find a Chinese partner for Google’s Android mobile phone operating system.

He noted that he was the most pro-China of Google’s triumvirate leadership.

In March last year Google stopped co-operating with China over censorship — a joint decision that Mr Schmidt said he was happy with.

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