COMP 2903 A30 – Google and Saving Face in China Danny Silver JSOCS, Acadia University
Adam Segal Council on Foreign Realtions, March 23, 2010
Background Jan, China censors/hacks Google content. US says stand and fight. March, Google announced redirecting users of google.cn to google.com.hk This way Google remains in China but reduces heat from Chinese authorities – How is this possible?
Background What is at stake ? Reduction of Chinese peoples ability to inquire about the world Advertising dollars in China Impact on China’s innovation (loss of info)
Google has competition
Spill over into World Politics China seen by Google affair as being a difficult country in which to do business. Percentage of business that feel unwelcome: – 2010: 38%, 2009:26%, 2008: 23%
Questions So what is censored by Chinese gov’t? – Social networking sites – Videos from youtube, etc – Voice of America, BBC, western news sources – Separatist movments Should Google have made the original deal allowing China to censor its search engine results? What is the current status of the relationship between China and Google?