Surprise: China Still Welcomes Google's Business
Google made a lot of headlines earlier in the year when it claimed it had been the victim of a cyber attack originating from China. The attacks led Google to the decision that it would no longer censor search results on Google.cn. On March 22, the search giant officially stopped censoring search results for Google.cn. Instead, the company started redirecting all users visiting .com.cn to Google's .com.hk portal where uncensored results could be viewed in simplified Chinese.
At the time, Google's David Drummond, Senior VP of Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer, admitted that it had been difficult to make good on their promise to stop censoring search.
"We want as many people in the world as possible to have access to our services, including users in mainland China, yet the Chinese government has been crystal clear throughout our discussions that self-censorship is a non-negotiable legal requirement," said Dummond. "We believe this new approach of providing uncensored search in simplified Chinese from Google.com.hk is a sensible solution to the challenges we've faced—it's entirely legal and will meaningfully increase access to information for people in China."
However, Drummond warned that China could still block access to Google services from Mainland China. Indeed, Google announced back in June that China wasn't happy with the arrangement. Drummond wrote last month that China was considering not renewing Google's ICP license.
"It’s clear from conversations we have had with Chinese government officials that they find the redirect unacceptable," Drummond wrote in a blog post. "If we continue redirecting users our Internet Content Provider license will not be renewed (it’s up for renewal on June 30)," he explained. "Without an ICP license, we can’t operate a commercial website like Google.cn—so Google would effectively go dark in China."
However, it appears China has in fact renewed the ICP license. Google today updated Dummond's June post with the following statement:
"We are very pleased that the government has renewed our ICP license and we look forward to continuing to provide web search and local products to our users in China."
"Sulplise: China ... welcomes ... business" !
Google's ethical stance in the past has been great.
I keep their search engine as my home page ... for the moment.
Welcome to all our Chinese THG users !!
I see what you did there... lol.
I had hoped Google would stick by its morals and stay out of China, but I guess everything follows the almighty dollar (or renminbi..)
Google said yesterday that it had received approval to operate again in the world's most populous country in exchange for no longer automatically rerouting users of Google.cn to its site in Hong Kong, which is not subject to China's censorship.
Google began the rerouting this year after it stopped censoring search results on the mainland. China runs the world's most extensive Web monitoring and filtering.
ITS ABOUT CENSORSHIP PEOPLE, NOT ABOUT MONEY - Although Google, as a corporation, would obviously be interested in having business with a population of nearly a billion (counting only those old or savvy enough to use the internet).
Key here is Google's comment: "We are very pleased that the government has renewed our ICP license and we look forward to continuing to provide web search and LOCAL products to our users in China."
Incidentally, this is what Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, would like for us in the USA. Imagine that! Check out the Internet "Kill Switch" bill up for consideration.
Wow, that is just totally backwards and ignorant.
Google is still running its business as normal.
In this instance it is China that has backed down.
China obviously needs Google more than Google needs China, otherwise they wouldn't have renewed the license.
Are you for reals? o.O Next time they come by stealing data, call them in for a drink cause those poor fellas do get very tired doing their work. ALWAYS ethical :P
No, it isn't. Google made half-ass gestures of standing up to China, then backed down when it was apparent China wouldn't mind dropping Google like a hot potato. Instead of taking a moral stand, Google is now telling us all they support censorship as long as it makes them some cash. Do you really think China is going to let Google.com.hk work properly from the mainland? Stop making yourself look so naive and get your head out of Google's butt.
It says above, and I quote,
So they are refusing to censor searches, redirecting to the .hk and that isn't standing up to the Chinese?
The only person round here with a head up an ass is you.
Your head.
Your ass.
Learn to read, dipshit.
Lieberman is a serious tool, I don't think either side really likes him.
Let's hope
Standing up to the Chinese would have meant pulling out of China completely. Instead, they redirected traffic to a site the Chinese will eventually shut down anyway, and went on with business as usual. And I might add that the story says nothing about whether the ICP renewal allows the Chinese gov. continue to censoring search results (like Google ever gave a rat's ass about that anyway). You can defend Google all you want, but their actions have shown a callous disregard for basic human rights in China. Learn to read between the lines, dipshit, and you might come off as a little more intelligent.