Google speaks out about China

Now, I know a lot of people are angry about Google’s decision to launch a censored version of their search engine in China.  It sucks.  However, those same people don’t seem to be up in arms about the fact that France and Germany also censor certain topics on any site based in those countries.  Yahoo, Google and all search engines with a local presence censor the topic required by law in those nations.  Where’s the outrage?

Bottom line is, you cannot force China to change.  No one can, they’re too big, too powerful and too necessary to world markets of all kinds.  All the change that has happened to date in China has come about by working from within to instigate change that China wants for itself.  You cannot do that without a local presence.  I’m not a big fan of Google.cn, but I understand the decision.

Why am I telling you about this?  A statement was released on the official Google blog.

Obviously, the situation in China is far different than it is in those other countries; while China has made great strides in the past decades, it remains in many ways closed. We aren’t happy about what we had to do this week, and we hope that over time everyone in the world will come to enjoy full access to information. But how is that full access most likely to be achieved? We are convinced that the Internet, and its continued development through the efforts of companies like Google, will effectively contribute to openness and prosperity in the world. Our continued engagement with China is the best (perhaps only) way for Google to help bring the tremendous benefits of universal information access to all our users there.

We’re in this for the long haul. In the years to come, we’ll be making significant and growing investments in China. Our launch of google.cn, though filtered, is a necessary first step toward achieving a productive presence in a rapidly changing country that will be one of the world’s most important and dynamic for decades to come. To some people, a hard compromise may not feel as satisfying as a withdrawal on principle, but we believe it’s the best way to work toward the results we all desire.

You change a culture and it’s government one of two ways: You beat them in a war and impose your will, or you infiltrate them on a grassroots level.  Baby steps.  It’s the only way to bring the Chinese government in line with what the people of China want and deserve.

That having been said...this is still funny.  That “isfullofcrap.com” joke never gets old to me. ;)

*UPDATE*

For more, see my latest Google/China post.

Posted by JimK at 08:56 AM on January 28, 2006
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Categories: News,  International Events,  Technobabble (Technology),  The Internet(s)
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