Facebook chief executive and founder Mark Zuckerberg spotted in Shanghai has made many speculate that the social network might return to China.
Chinese microbloggers posted photos of Zuckerberg and girlfriend Priscilla Chan at an Apple store and in the city's art gallery district, the Agence France Press reported. They also wrote that they hoped Zuckerberg's visit might mean access to China -- the site is currently blocked by the Chinese government, dubbed the "Great Firewall of China."
In China, the government censors Internet content it deems subversive or politically sensitive, and Facebook has been banned since 2009.
Facebook has shown interest in China, including recently thinking about trying again to enter China, according to federal filings -- likely because of China's 500 billion users. But so far, the government acquiescing to the social network doesn't look good.
Perhaps Zuckerberg was there to test the waters in China, now that a year has gone by since the Chinese government pulled out of negotiations because of the Arab Spring uprisings. Or maybe he was there with live-in girlfriend Chan simply on a vacation -- he previously vacationed with her in Morocco and Uruguay, after all.
We think Zuckerberg was likely there to keep Facebook's foot in the door, but we don't think anything will be decided after only a couple of weeks in the country.
