Google vs. Censorship
After years of fighting for the ability to allow users free reign of knowledge found with their search engine, Google has finally pulled the plug on their efforts in China. Amid praise from international human rights groups and regret from native Chinese businessmen and women, the Chinese government has been very vocal about their disapproval. Until recently, Google had been willing to compromise on the matter of Chinese censorship, even going so far as to augment their search function within the nation to include a warning system for native users. However, it would seem that Google had finally had enough and it has sent ripples throughout global channels.
The White House even commented on the matter, stating that they were “disappointed that the pair had been unable to resolve their differences.” Though this may outwardly seem far from an economic matter, Google has much to lose in withdrawing from China both in the long and short run. In fact, it is fortunate that neither party has elected to turn the matter into a political issue, though China seems unwilling to take things in that direction. Despite the corporation’s best efforts, its attempts at furthering globalization have been effectively stymied, if only temporarily. Time will tell if the Chinese government can be swayed by other internet companies following in Google’s footsteps. But until such a time, censorship remains a means by which the world remains very much round.
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8582233.stm)
