Google to Stop Censoring Chinese Search Results in Wake of Cyber-attacks
Google to Stop Censoring Chinese Search Results in Wake of Cyber-attacks
Posted 01/12/2010 at 5:33pm
| by Ryan Whitwam
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In a blog post today, Google has revealed some details on what it says was an unusually coordinated series of cyber-attacks launched against it in December. The attacks, which originated in China, were apparently aimed at gaining access to the Gmail accounts of a number of advocates for human rights in China. Google says only two accounts appear to have been accessed, and even then only basic details like subject lines and date stamps were taken.
As part of their investigation, Google claims to have discovered that dozens of human rights activists the world over have had unauthorized individuals access their Google accounts. This was not part of the December attacks, but was likely the result of phishing. Google has apparently plugged the holes that were exploited, but they aren’t done yet.
The Google.cn domain was launched in 2006 when the internet giant agreed to censor some search results. At the time, Google indicated they would monitor the situation, and adjust their approach if needed. According to the blog post, “These attacks and the surveillance they have uncovered--combined with the attempts over the past year to further limit free speech on the web--have led us to conclude that we should review the feasibility of our business operations in China.”
So starting now, Google says they will stop filtering search results in China. The Mountain View based company plans to discuss with the Chinese government the possibility of operating an unfiltered search engine. If that is not possible, the Google.cn domain may be shut down along with the Chinese Google offices. Is this a good move for Google? Should a commitment to free speech outweigh the lucrative nature of the Chinese market? Or maybe this move is just long overdue.
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CurtD
January 27, 2010 at 6:59pm
Google and China are bringing up a 21st century battle of democracy and freedom verse Communism and restricted personal freedom. When we started using cloud computing systems we saw the HUGE area of security problems being created in cross country internet usage. Thrown in that the entire world is "outsourcing" computer stuff to Southeast Asian countries, and you have to plan for these socio-technology issues going forward. We study search demand/supply trends from around the world to find profitable niches and products. A niche, or hot predictions, is not just a demand side issue, but a supply/demand curve. If you predict IPHONE apps will take off, and there are already 100,000 aps, then you aren't going to hit that one. If you see that demand for cell phone radiation shields is going nuts and there are only two suppliers, then you can be pretty sure that it will be a good year for those 2 supplies. The software at www.TheInternetTimeMachine.com studies both the demand (search volume) and supply (think "results" in Google). The Google Phone is generating much more buzz right now then say the Apple Tablet.
Cheers,
Curt
Here is a video on what I mean.. http://bit.ly/SupplyDemandCurves
naxself
January 13, 2010 at 2:54pm
Nice to see morality return to Google HQ. I fully support Google in this instance.
Zombie30000
January 13, 2010 at 4:54am
Its good to see that "Do no evil" now includes "Do not sleep in bed with evil".
I'm curious though, if Google.cn is shut down, will the people there be able to use Google.com, or will the Great Firewall of China still filter content from free searches? It seems tha even if you can searth for anything, they still won't have access to content their government doesn't want them to have access to.
I think this is a good thing, but I don't see if it will actually change anything immediatly. Hopefully it will be some sort of message and other businesses will stand up and decide that human rights are more important cheep labor/easy profits.
tonychow70
January 12, 2010 at 9:54pm
I am living in China now.
I think, if google decide to stop their business in China is all because money.
As lots of people known, the Baidu, Chinese search site take 3 times market share more than Google in China. How about this?
IF Chinese government said Google or baidu have to filtering search results, they have no choice but follow the order.
1337Goose
January 12, 2010 at 6:01pm
This is possibly the most complex conflict I've seen arise on the web in the past year or so.
Has anybody actually read that blog post? If you haven't, I recommend it. It's worded the way the mafia might have worded it: it suggests things, but it doesn't come out and say them. If you're reading between the lines correctly, you know there's more at stake here than Google's China offices and the google.cn domain name.
I think Google and China are in a symbiotic relationship. Google generates revenue from China but China gets Google's services (and they also get industry and tax revenue).
I have to hand it to Google's PR department, however. Google collects more personal information about us than the Chinese government ever could, albeit with different intentions. Google's going to come out of this looking like a saint.
Here are my three predictions: Propaganda will be spread. Compromises will be made. The Media will have a field day.
~Goose
JohnP
January 12, 2010 at 5:58pm
You mean there actually IS a company in the world that is not going to let a government dictate to them? Google, you have just made a customer for life.
Now if a company would just stand up to the EU penalizing US corporations ((Cough MS and Intel), the world would be a better place.
Carlidan
January 13, 2010 at 12:31am
“Animals, whom we have made our slaves, we do not like to consider our equal.”
EU are penalizing US corporations because they actual have balls to fight them not like us. Corporations control every part of life. Name on thing they haven't have their hands on. Shit the even control of freaking military. That's sad.
nekollx
January 13, 2010 at 9:52am
right cause it takes "balls" to force a company to include a ballot box so people can choose other free browsers, and the idea a company would include only their own browser by defaut is some big rights conflict....unless your Apple...
------------------------------
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Biceps
January 12, 2010 at 5:43pm
Google has just proved itself to be one of the last companies in existence that actually has a soul. From now on the moral pygmies at Yahoo! can go suck eggs. Google is and continues to be my search engine of choice.
nekollx
January 12, 2010 at 5:38pm
You can't spell GO! without Google!
You GO Girl !
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
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