In a challenge to Chinese authorities, Google has started encrypting all web searches conducted by users in China, the Washington Post reported on Thursday.

The move, which would prevent authorities blocking searches on sensitive words such as “Dalai Lama” or “Tiananmen Square,” is part of a wider Google effort to boost privacy technology designed to hamper Government surveillance attempts around the world.

Google has been encrypting all its US searches since 2012 and has started encrypting all traffic that flows between its data centres in response to leaks from National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden about the extent of surveillance by the US Government.

But the move in China could place the global web giant on a collision course with the Chinese Government, which retains strict control over what sites are freely available to Net users in the country.

Google moved most of its operations out of mainland China in 2010, setting up shop in Hong Kong. But its services are little used in China and its share of the search market there has dwindled to as low as 5 per cent, the report said.

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