Video Game-Hating, Anonymous Commenter-Hating South Australian Attorney General Steps Down

Google Approach In China: Redirect To Hong Kong

from the let's-see-what-happens-now dept

Mon, Mar 22nd 2010 4:55pm — Mike Masnick

Google obviously made a big splash earlier this year when it threatened to leave China in response to a hack attack. There's been a lot of back and forth, and some questions about whether or not Google would really leave. Just last week, China ratcheted up the rhetoric, warning Google not to stop censoring search results. Now Google has made its strategy a bit clearer, by saying that it's going to redirect all Google Chinese searches to the Hong Kong version of its search engine, which is not censored. And, now, it waits for China's response. Amusingly, Google has also set up a little dashboard that highlights what Google services China is currently blocking. The next big question, of course, is whether or not Google will also start looking for ways to help people get around the blocks...

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Filed Under: censorship, china, hong kong, search
Companies: google

26 Comments

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NFG, 22 Mar 2010 @ 5:49pm

I can't really see Google actively assisting people in circumventing these blocks. I would expect ChinGov sees a world of difference between exploiting legal loopholes (as this move to HK seems to be) and helping people get around the government's Legal and Righteous Great Firewall.

I'm torn between expecting ChinGov to block google in short order, and the conspiracy bit in my brain thinking this is a big public showdown where Google finds a loophole and ChinGov accepts this, as a prelude to giving up the whole censorship thing. "well we don't like it, but it's legal..." Cue complaints from Baidu, and the great firewall comes crashing down.

It's a great show, innit? =D
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- Fletcher, 22 Mar 2010 @ 6:03pm
  
  Re:
  I expect your first prediction to be the correct one: ChinGov blocks google in short order.
  
  China seems mostly interested in maintaining social cohesion and internal industrial growth. There's not much google can offer that Baidu can't replicate if ChinGov decides they want it.
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- Andrew F (profile), 22 Mar 2010 @ 7:37pm
  
  Re:
  I actually could see Google actively assisting people in circumventing the blocks. It depends largely on what the government does. If the PRC straight up blocks access to Google HK, then what does Google have to lose? Actively assisting circumvention increases marketshare.
  
  On the other hand, it the PRC only threatens to block Google, then Google might be a bit more restrained.
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NQ Logic (profile), 22 Mar 2010 @ 6:35pm

Google Vs China - Round 2
A month ago, NQ Logic predicted that Google will move out of China. Today saw Google officially transplanting its base to Hong Kong and removing censorship. This clash of value between an Internet company and an information-controlled country will continue to be present at every Multinational Technology executive board, and with Google’s disclosure, other U.S. technology companies will have a harder time to explain why they are still doing business in China. For a better and complete understanding of the situation, NQ Logic encourages you to read "Google Vs. China" at www.nqlogic.com
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Mar 2010 @ 6:44pm

google makes their first truly big mistake.
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- Anonymous Coward, 22 Mar 2010 @ 6:47pm
  
  Re:
  Pft, what's China going to do, bring in the military?
  
  ...what's that? Oh...er, forget I said anything.
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Mikey (profile), 22 Mar 2010 @ 6:55pm

I just can't believe a corporation with stockholders can have a social conscience.
I don't recall any other examples but there must be a few.

Circumventing the Great Firewall is simple. Google it!

The only bad thing I can imagine, besides Google loosing some money,
is if China decides to put some Google employees on trial for fabricated crimes.
I expect China will impose some fines on Google Inc. for failing to obey the arrogant PRC.

Microsoft will be kissing their commie asses and commending them for their Great Wisdom in dealing with Google.
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- Allen (profile), 22 Mar 2010 @ 7:50pm
  
  It's a matter of perspective
  From the PRC's perspective, Google are the ones that are being arrogant.
  
  Anyone posturing for a foreign audience rather than following the culturally acceptable practice of private discussions out side the public eye is going to be considered arrogant.
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- FredB (profile), 23 Mar 2010 @ 6:22am
  
  Google
  Your right about the social conscience. It is another example of special interests (all minority sized groups) controlling the corporations and the majorities.
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NQ Logic (profile), 22 Mar 2010 @ 7:03pm

A month ago, NQ Logic predicted that Google will move out of China. Today saw Google officially transplanting its Chinese base to its Hong Kong facilities. This clash of value between an Internet company and an information-controlled country will continue to be present at every Multinational Technology executive board, and with Google’s disclosure, other U.S. technology companies will have a harder time to explain why they are still doing business in China.

For a better and complete understanding of the situation, NQ Logic encourages you to read "Google Vs. China" at www.nqlogic.com
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- Mike Masnick (profile), 22 Mar 2010 @ 7:54pm
  
  Re:
  A month ago, NQ Logic predicted that Google will move out of China.
  
  A month after Google said it would do so? Not quite sure how that qualifies you to have special knowledge. :)
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Anonymous Coward, 22 Mar 2010 @ 7:23pm

After what happened to Google in Italy, I'm surprised they are still standing up for freedom. But still, it's disappointing that citizens of Italy and the world have allowed some corrupt government to put google executives in jail for no good reason.
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Pavan, 22 Mar 2010 @ 11:16pm

What more can we expect from google. A corporate gaint acting this way, old is gold. I agree, google is good at services, but with MS wokenup, and google going silly, a change in near future can be expected.

Although, I support MS, i still use gmail :P.

MS is still developing in webcentric services :D
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Txknight (profile), 23 Mar 2010 @ 5:20am

its a good move, makes them "look" like good guys, wonder if people know google censors searches in the US
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- Nicholas Overstreet (profile), 23 Mar 2010 @ 6:11am
  
  Re:
  They don't.
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- Hephaestus (profile), 23 Mar 2010 @ 6:33am
  
  Re:
  I wonder what the australian censors are thinking at this point. Will google do this here? Will Google say these links formerly blocked in australia? Will google do a previously censored section in australia and china?
  
  PreviouslyCensored.google.com.hk ... that would be kind of funny ... it would probably end up like the catholic churches Index Librorum Prohibitorum ... best sellers
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  - CheMonro (profile), 23 Mar 2010 @ 2:59pm
    
    Re: Re:
    Have you seen this story? Brazillian censors way if you did it for China, you must do it for us too.
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    - CheMonro (profile), 23 Mar 2010 @ 3:01pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-technology/brazil-fines-google-for-not-censoring-dirty-jokes-20 100324-qufh.html
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known coward, 23 Mar 2010 @ 7:11am

well i need to eat my hat, please pass the salt
I am surprised google went even this far, I expected them to completely cave in. I was wrong and google is behaving much better than I gave them credit for. I still expect this to be resolved pretty much in china’s favor, but in this step, I was wrong. A pat on the back for Google.

On the other hand, I want to thank the running lap dogs of their imperialist banker overlords and wall street for dropping the share price of google 5% on the announcement that google was acting like a civilized, consumer conscious company.

May you burn in hell Goldman Sachs.
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- Anonymous Coward, 3 Apr 2010 @ 8:46am
  
  Re: well i need to eat my hat, please pass the salt
  Your going to need to eat your hat again.
  
  If Googles share price went down as a result of 'those imperialist banker overlords' I say 'fantastic'!
  It gives people that take the time to be educated to snap up the shares at a discounted price. When people realize that Google is a strong company, the prices will go back up and enable anyone to make some quick money.
  
  Go get educated and keep your inflammatory labels to your self
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Anonymous Coward, 23 Mar 2010 @ 7:40pm

Are they dumb
http://www.techwankers.com/2010/03/23/china-to-google-take-geography-101/
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- Anonymous Coward, 25 Mar 2010 @ 12:48pm
  
  Re:
  Hong Kong is a special administrative district. Its laws are different than the rest of China.
  
  In other words: Are you dumb?
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Anonymous Coward, 24 Mar 2010 @ 10:06pm

Interesting. Corporate information and internet based company facing off against a superpower that relies on its own control of information. It'll be interesting to see the final results of this.
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Anonymous Coward, 27 Mar 2010 @ 6:12pm

no one here has mentioned the impact this childish challenge may have on the sovereignty of Hong Kong's existence as a special administrative district. That designation is a privilege given by the motherland. Let's not forget that China is still a country run by a powerful few.
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Maggie Jones, 5 May 2010 @ 1:51am

I am surprised google went even this far.
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yuregininsesi, 24 Jun 2010 @ 4:16pm

After what happened to Google in Italy, I'm surprised they are still standing up for freedom. But still, it's disappointing that citizens of Italy and the world have allowed some corrupt government to put google executives in jail for no good reason.
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