China’s Great Firewall attacks Google once again, blocks any form of access to Gmail

Gmail users in China are now finding that Google’s email service is totally inaccessible in the country. While Gmail’s website has been blocked in China since June, along with every other Google service, it had remained usable via IMAP/SMAP/POP in third-party email apps such as Microsoft Outlook or Apple Mail. However, this newest crackdown seems to have shut that loophole, with Gmail’s IMAP, SMAP, and POP servers now fully blocked in China.

We’ve tested Gmail from a handful of different mail apps and found it to be totally inaccessible in mainland China. It means the only way to access Gmail in China is with use of a VPN or proxy tool.

Google’s real-time Transparency Report tool shows that Gmail traffic in China (pictured below) dropped close to zero starting on December 26.

We’ve contacted Google’s Asia HQ and will update if we get a response.

This latest assault on Google services by the Great Firewall was flagged by people on Weibo and Twitter over the weekend.

China blocks Imap 4 Gmail. Netizens report they can no longer get Gmail on Apple Mail (OSX) & Mail (iPhone) or domestic Internet providers.

— Yaxue Cao (@YaxueCao) December 28, 2014

Reports circulating that Gmail completely blocked in China, including IMAP/POP. VPN only option. https://t.co/DJwlbs9kfI