Google and Censorship in China
How will the decision to censor affect Google?
Google's decision to censor search data in China has raised many questions, from the right to information to corporate greed. The company has defended itself by saying th
Google, perhaps the most used search engine, opened itself to criticism by agreeing to censorship in order to comply with the requirements set by the communist government of China. In its defense, the company said that it had no choice, it was either censorship or the possibility of losing the Chinese market. Andrew McLaughlin, senior policy counsel, says in the company's official blog, "We know that many people are upset about this decision, and frankly, we understand their point of view. This wasn't an easy choice, but in the end, we believe the course of action we've chosen will prove to be the right one."(McLaughlin, 2006)
Whether or not the action will bring about positive results for Google, its image has suffered because of this scandal. Large numbers of Google users in the United States, Europe and even in China have reacted angrily to the news, although some have supported it saying that the company did what it could to stay in the world's largest market. Users who have been angered denounce the move saying that the company has double standards. While resisting a subpoena issued by the US government for search data on Internet pornography, pleading privacy of users, the company has agreed to censor search data in China violating the right to information of the Chinese people.
Internet users in China, the ones who are directly affected by this move, have said the this step is another blow to the reform movement going on in China, and some have said that it is another example of corporate greed. While the media coverage on this issue has largely been one-sided, a report by Christian Science Monitor's Robert Marquand explains the censorship in a broader perspective. He talks about the Chinese government's systematic crack down on free media and people who work in it. The report also talks about the economic implications of Google's decision: huge foreign investment flowing into the country, employment opportunities and increased revenue.
Although it is tempting to paint Google's move as being greedy and ignoring the basic rights of people, the economic advantage to China and to Google cannot be ignored. It is important that this issue be analyzed from both angles. I would like to invite our readers to share their views in our discussion section.
Sources:
McLaughlin, Andrew (2006). Google in China. http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/01/google-in-china.html
Marquand, Robert (2006). China's media censorship rattling world imag.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0224/p01s04-woap.html
