Google's prototype Chinese search engine links searches to phone numbers

Google's secret prototype search engine for China reportedly links users' mobile phone numbers to what search terms they've used. This feature would allow the Chinese government to simply associate searches with individuals, thereby putting Chinese citizens at increased risk of government repression if they search for topics that their government deems politically sensitive, according to the Intercept. The mobile-focused search engine prototype, code-named Dragonfly, was first revealed last month by the Intercept. Dragonfly is said to have been conceptualized as a joint venture between Google and a Chinese-based company. Both would have the ability to update a list of verboten search words, which could include expected subjects like "human rights" and "student protest" but could also extend to search terms such as "Nobel Prize", according to the Intercept's story.