Google challenger in Vietnam redirecting queries

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — A Russian-financed search engine seeking to challenge Google’s dominance in Vietnam is redirecting queries for some politically sensitive terms to the American company’s search engine, apparently as a way of avoiding government anger or legal liability for sending surfers to sites containing criticism of the ruling party.

The move Thursday follows an Associated Press story on the well-funded start up, Coc Coc, which noted it didn’t seem to be censoring results. The shift illustrates the difficulties facing companies in Vietnam’s booming Internet industry, which must contend with a government intent on stifling online dissent that is a challenge to its authoritarian rule.