Google and China Reach a Compromise; Google Plans to Ride China's Technology Growth Wave

By Susan J. Campbell

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

It appears that in spite of China's continued attempts to censor Internet users and trump individual license rights, Google (News - Alert) has decided to comply with government demands.

 A recent Associated Press report shows that Google has agreed to obey censorship laws and to stop automatically switching mainland users to the unfiltered Hong Kong site. As a result of its ability to conform, Google's Internet license has been renewed by China.

A publish clash had ensured after China attacked Google for its practices. The company closed its search engine in China last March, but continues to offer music and other services. Google is now promising to obey Chinese law and avoid linking to material that is deemed a threat to national security and social stability.


The problem with such a promise is that China often views seemingly innocent information and websites as a threat. Their constant attack on free speech is a contradiction to what appears to be the Google philosophy. The China market is still very viable, however, which drives a number of companies to make exceptions.

Zhang Feng, director of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's Telecoms Development Department, shared at a news conference that Google plans rectification and reform. This commitment conforms to regulation and puts Google in a more favorable light as far as Chinese government is concerned.

China does have a quickly growing Internet market and Google really wants a piece. At the same time, the government is still trying to control a significant amount of technology and information. Beijing is pushing hard to develop this technology and Google can play an important role - but the communist government wants the company to play by their rules.

Google doesn't want to censor results and announced in January that it was considering shutting down the search engine. This prompted an outcry by Internet users who wanted the company to stay. Google may find it difficult to thrive in an environment where the government promotes Internet use for business and education, but tries to block access to material considered subversive or pornographic.

In an attempted compromise, Google closed the China search engine in May and started switching users automatically to Hong Kong. Still considered Chinese territory, Hong King has Western-style civil liberties. Chinese regulators objected to the automatic switching and Google made a change to simply allow users to opt for the switch.

While China is still not a big moneymaker for Google, the expected future growth is likely to be significant, driving Google to make the necessary changes in anticipation of reward.