zondag 28 maart 2010

Google no longer agrees to filter Chinese search results


For several weeks now, Google and China are entangled in disputes about the censorship of the Chinese Google version: google.cn. Recently, Google decided to shut down its search engine in China and to redirect Chinese users to its uncensored Hong Kong site. This way Google does no longer has to abide by Chinese laws which restrict the information shown in the search results. However, Chinese firewalls are still making sure the information is censored.

The Chinese government has expressed its disapproval of Google's actions. Chinese officials argue that every company which does business on the Chinese market cannot ignore Chinese law. Moreover, they point out that Google signed an agreement when entering the Chinese market in 2006, which included censoring the search results. As Google no longer wants to filter its Chinese search results, the company violated this agreement.

Google took this decision after the company suffered a 'sophisticated cyber attack originating from China'. At the same time it was discovered that several Gmail accounts, especially from human right activists that had a link with China, had been hacked. Those events followed the blocking of sites like Facebook, YouTube and Blogger by the Chinese government. This led Google to agree it should no longer filter its Chinese search results.

Google's decision has been applauded by many international human right groups. They hope that this event will increase the pressure on China to give its citizens free internet access. China's international reputation has been seriously damaged by Google's actions.

By pulling out of China, Google risks to lose a lot of money as the Chinese search engine market is expected to grow fast. China now already has the largest number of internet users in the world. As one billion of Chinese do not yet have internet access, this number will increase in the years to come.

Marcey Missiaen

Sources: BBC News China condemns decision by Google to lift censorship
BBC News Google 'may pull out of China after Gmail cyber attack'
ZDNet Belgiƫ Google stopt censuurbeleid in China
The official Google blog: A new approach to China: an update

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