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"I didn't think I would come to this conclusion -- but eventually I came to the conclusion that more information is better, even if it is not as full as we would like to see," Google cofounder Sergey Brin told the Reuters news agency at the Davos Economic Forum in Switzerland last week, referring to the decision to abide by Chinese restrictions. "It's not something I enjoy, but I think it was a reasonable decision."
What seems clear is that as Google starts to flex its muscle in more areas of the Internet and the international economy, it's becoming harder for the company to hew to black-and-white distinctions -- such as "good" and "evil."
It would clearly be "evil," for example, if Gmail users' private messages were read by Google employees, rather than mindless computer programs. But is it evil to collect user data that helps the company improve its services? Or to bring more information to a truth-starved population like the 100 million Web users in China? Such thornier questions will only proliferate as Google grows.
Despite its wealth and power, Google is still a young company in a young market, notes Charles Ferguson, an investor and technology writer who profiled Google for Technology Review in January 2005. As a result, it's been able to expand at a rapid pace without bumping up too much against competitors. "But they'll get to the point where the incremental dollars they can earn from advertising will get them into fights with others more," Ferguson predicts. "And in dealing not just with China but also with India and the Islamic world, I think they will encounter some difficulties."
Google is unlikely ever to attract as much criticism as Microsoft, which, perhaps out of necessity, has taken a more ruthless approach to business. "With Microsoft it was extremely clear that their route to riches lay straight through the corpses of half a dozen other companies," says Ferguson. "Google is in a structural position that makes it easier for them to be charitable. I think they're going to have an easier time of 'not being evil' than almost any other company in the world -- but it will become a little bit harder over time."
After an attack that required staggering skill and resources, the company threatens to quit China.
The search giant's new IM product, Talk, is newsworthy -- but probably won't overturn the telecommunications industry. In fact, the recent move by Skype may be more ground-breaking.
Guest (AH Rosen)
We users have to choose - do we want exclusive control of all of our data/ Or, do we want to put some or all of it on the web in exchange for free unlimiuted storage and services that can make us happy? There is an unavoidable price to be paid for each choice. anyone who has had a crashed computer knows the price for the first chaice. Coogle is not alone in the second - EK comes to mind for pictures, as do banks for your money.
Guest (Charlie Richmond)
Only last year, 2005, I was able to find collections of poetry and prose with great facility. A couple of weeks ago I was teaching a class of "seniors" how to use search engines and only seemed to turn up books for sale.
I was able to modify my search words and get to a few sources but even then, they were heavily salted with the "for sale" items.
Perhaps Google could make return to its more arcane logic just for us older folk who just want to reread some of the many wonderful writings that we have learned to love over the years.
Charlie Richmond
Guest (blink4blog)
I don't really agree this is a foul play
Each country consist of its national policy on media and information system and China just wants whats the best for them. Google or Microsoft could choose not to goto China if they think the market is not profitable?
http://blink4blog.blogspot.com
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Guest (N Huntoon)
Something people seem to be forgetting when discussing google.cn is that it's not the only version of Google available in China. Chinese can still use www.google.com and get uncensored access to entire internet. They only have to put up with slow response times because the server they are connecting to is located elsewhere. Google.cn only accesses the servers inside China. In order for Google to place servers inside China, they have to comply with Chinese laws. If I were a Chinese citizen, I would use google.cn for my benign searches but put up with the longer wait times when I'm trying to overthrow the government.
Guest (mad matter)
I guess that will be the acid test, when the chinese government asks google for info from google.com (assuming they can actually get on through their service provider) do they give the chinese government the requested info. If they don't then surely google.cn will be outlawed also. The question remains, will google yahoo or "not do evil"
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Guest (V. L Elliott)
Google's inconsistency
Google accepted and, in some ways, is enforcing the restrictions that the totalitarian government of China places on the people of China. Google chose to deny and, indeed, oppose a US Government attempt to obtain information that at least some believed to be needed for the anti-terrorism campaign. Google's supporters argued that the latter decision was based on fundmental principles. The decision with regard to China seems to be based on acquiring a larger share of a growing market. While it may be a reasoned decision it brings into question Google's motivation. It looks like the complany is using muliple standards. To date, Google has not given us a satisfactory explanation of the apparent inconsistency.
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Guest (Leila)
black and white views
It is fantastic that we can have access to such an important news as how companies and government operate and set up new relationship.
It is also a great opportunity for me, as a person from a developing country, to follow up press and ONGs reaction. And the opportunity to discuss the issue.
I am wondering if we could think the opposite: Google refuse to accept China's law. What would happen? I think about Cuba and US no-relationship...
What kind of trade-offs would a company do? Can countries with no democracy history change? How come?
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Guest (Down with Google)
Google will pay for this...
Many big companies were forced to pay reparations for cooperating with the Nazi regimes in Europe. They looked the other way, just so they could make some profits. They didn't care that it was bloodmoney. When democracy will come to China, all these corporate whores will be held accountable for supporting a dictatorial regime.
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Guest (mad matter)
why would that be
The US government supports plenty of dictators, eg Saddam Hussein in the 80's. They have not paid for it yet, welcome to your world
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