Google stands up

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. We have decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn, and so over the next few weeks we will be discussing with the Chinese government the basis on which we could operate an unfiltered search engine within the law, if at all. We recognize that this may well mean having to shut down Google.cn, and potentially our offices in China.

Thus, in a public statement, Google has finally stood up for freedom of speech in its China operation. After succumbing to Chinese censorship since launching Google.cn in January, 2006, the mighty search engine has decided to do the right thing. The final straw was apparently "a highly sophisticated and targeted attack" on Google's corporate infrastructure that originated from China and resulted in the theft of intellectual property from the company. Google stands to lose over 30 per cent of the largest internet market in the world.

Some Chinese appreciate their courage. "Google is a great soldier of freedom. You don't bend to the devils," said a note on one site. Unfortunately, mesmerized by the huge Chinese market and cheap labour, corporations routinely do bend to the devils. Finally one has stood up to them in the name of basic human rights.

For Google's complete statement, "A New Approach to China," go to http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-approach-to-china.html.