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Google Blinks First, China Wins
Techtree News Staff, Jan 26, 2006 1401 hrs ISTGoogle has announced plans to launch a Chinese version of its search engine; censoring some of its services.
Google has announced plans to launch a Chinese version of its search engine; but the catch is that the company will censor some of its services in keeping with Beijing's restrictions on free speech.
So far, a Chinese-language version of Google has been available through the company's dot-com address in the US. However with a unique Chinese address, Google hopes to boost its access to one of the world's largest internet markets.
Google's Chinese service will initially be limited to searching Web pages and images; Chat room, email and blogging services will not be available.
Google admits that the decision to censor content was a difficult one, and that removing some of its services is inconsistent with its mission. But the company also says that providing a heavily degraded user experience would have been even more inconsistent with its mission. The company maintains that it can play a more useful role in China by participating rather than by boycotting, despite the compromises involved.
Critics of course say that the censored version will restrict access to thousands of terms and websites for Chinese users. Topics likely to be blocked include Taiwan's independence and the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
Of late China has been increasingly in the news for its use of internet controls. Chinese public security authorities recently shut down 598 porn Web sites, and eradicated 35 porn domain names. Thanks to government controls, even Google has lost out to its rival, Beijing-based web search company Baidu.
Interestingly, Google's China-launch comes less than a week after the appointment of a federal judge to compel the search giant to turn-over a week's worth of search queries, as part of the US government's effort to uphold a federal law on online pornography. Google insists that the subpoena is unnecessary and overtly broad, and that complying with it would jeopardize both the company's trade secrets and sensitive user information.
Related News:
US Turns Heat on Google Over Porn
China Shuts Down 598 Porn Sites
So far, a Chinese-language version of Google has been available through the company's dot-com address in the US. However with a unique Chinese address, Google hopes to boost its access to one of the world's largest internet markets.
Google's Chinese service will initially be limited to searching Web pages and images; Chat room, email and blogging services will not be available.
Google admits that the decision to censor content was a difficult one, and that removing some of its services is inconsistent with its mission. But the company also says that providing a heavily degraded user experience would have been even more inconsistent with its mission. The company maintains that it can play a more useful role in China by participating rather than by boycotting, despite the compromises involved.
Critics of course say that the censored version will restrict access to thousands of terms and websites for Chinese users. Topics likely to be blocked include Taiwan's independence and the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre.
Of late China has been increasingly in the news for its use of internet controls. Chinese public security authorities recently shut down 598 porn Web sites, and eradicated 35 porn domain names. Thanks to government controls, even Google has lost out to its rival, Beijing-based web search company Baidu.
Interestingly, Google's China-launch comes less than a week after the appointment of a federal judge to compel the search giant to turn-over a week's worth of search queries, as part of the US government's effort to uphold a federal law on online pornography. Google insists that the subpoena is unnecessary and overtly broad, and that complying with it would jeopardize both the company's trade secrets and sensitive user information.
Related News:
US Turns Heat on Google Over Porn
China Shuts Down 598 Porn Sites
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,Bangalore, on Jan 27, 2006 12:10 PM
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