'Google operating without licence in China'

Google.cn has so far been using the same ICP licence as Ganji.com, a Chinese information website.

Google has been operating in China without the necessary Internet content provider license (ICP), Chinese media have reported.

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"Without a license, foreign capital is not allowed to engage in telecom business, including ICP operations," it was reported.

The Ministry of Information is investigating the incident.

Google.cn has so far been using the same ICP license as Ganji.com, a Chinese information website.

Silicon Valley-based Google caused uproar when it launched Google.cn because it agreed to censor websites and content banned by China's propaganda chiefs.

Other major US Internet and tech firms, such as Yahoo, Microsoft and Cisco, have also been criticised for complying with, or aiding, China's censorship efforts.