Name: Sadia Naz

User I.D. 197532

Google in China: The Big Disconnect

Answer 1.

When Google decided to create a Google site to cater to the Chinese market, it not only
opened its doors to a new set of personality it also opened its does to legal, cultural and
ethical challenges in business. Among the first hurdles encountered by Google occurred
Soon after they launched their Chinese language service to China. Operating from the
United States, they were immediately met with legal issues as the Chinese government
blocked the site from access in China. Even though the site was soon after unblocked, a
considerable amount of censorship was positioned upon the search results of the trendy
search engine.To be able to operate in China legally there was a need to employ
censorship despite the core values of the company.

As per Govt policy adhering to the free-speech restrictions of the Chinese government
was part and parcel of the primary dilemmas that face western nations when they attempt
to enter into a developing country. Google was forced to ask their selves if their presence
in the country was worth the negotiation. Secondly, culturally there is much that the
western Google needed to adjust to, to be able to cater to the market of 100 million
Chinese individuals.
Google threat to quit China over censorship highlights US fears that a more powerful
Beijing is tapping government and corporate computer networks to steal secrets and to
prepare for potential conflicts.The Google dispute may become a telling test of how they
balance loyalties to their country with their desire for unfettered expression and access to
information, and this response could shape how Beijing handles the dispute.
Despite censorship, China's Internet can be a potent public forum, with bloggers and
amorphous online groups hectoring the government over pollution and corruption. Last
year, the government abruptly abandoned a plan to force all new personal computers to
come with a copy of "Green Dam" Internet-filtering software that had been derided by
online critics as intrusive and ineffective.
"Foreign firms in China should respect China's laws and regulations, and respect China's
public customs and traditions, and assume the corresponding social responsibilities, and
of course Google is no exception,"
Answer 3.

Censorship of internet site in the China is conducted under a wide variety of laws and
administrative regulations. There are no specific laws or regulations which the censorship
follows. In accordance with these laws, more than sixty Internet regulations have been
made by the China government, and censorship systems are vigorously implemented by
provincial branches of state-owned ISPs, business companies, and organizations.
No unit or individual may use the Internet to create, replicate, ransmit the following kinds
of information:
1. Inciting to resist or breaking the Constitution or laws or the implementation of
administrative regulations; ;
2. Inciting hatred or discrimination among nationalities or harming the unity of the
nationalities;
3. Making falsehoods or distorting the truth, spreading rumors, destroying the order
of society;
The Golden Shield Project is part of what is known outside of mainland China as the
Great Firewall of China. The system blocks content by preventing IP addresses from
being routed through. It consists of standard firewalls and proxy servers at the Internet
gateways. The system also selectively engages in DNS poisoning when particular sites
are requested. The government does not appear to be systematically examining Internet
content, as this appears to be technically impractical.Together with IP blocking, URL,
DNS, and packet filtering, the APS has a unique characteristic: it is not only forbidden
sites on these methods, but also bans websites based on content. A blog would be banned
immediately because it shows ways to access "forbidden sites".

The self-censorship is practiced by many Chinese. While the sites that should be
forbidden to slip through the cracks, Chinese nationals by the end of this exercise in self-
censorship and do not visit these sites anyway. It makes perfect sense: just because the
site was not banned, it is still okay to watch? Because of this opportunity and go to jail as
many Chinese bloggers? The idea that you are the Golden Shield Project observed, even
if the site allows the network is a powerful force.

Although China's Golden Shield Project has recently allowed an unprecedented amount
of traffic to Web servers go to China, it's just a matter of time site bans are in place and
again and again the Chinese government to police the Internet.

Google seems to be on the way to becoming fully assimilated with China’s culture. The
company allowed for a compromise with the Chinese government in order to gain a
footing on the world’s biggest market .Some of the said compromises necessitated
removing search engine results not approved by the government usually those with
notions on freedom of speech.

Yahoo made the same attempt of breaking into China’s market in 1999 .However, they
were not successful. Cultural differences between Americans and Chinese proved to be
too much of a shock for Yahoo. Some of the differences were : the Chinese 's preference
for using cell phones rather than e-mails the over-popularity of discussion boards and
piracy , which is very much widespread in China .Form the lessons learned from Yahoo 's
experience , Google opted for a different tactics : using a search engine capable of
recognizing characters of Asian languages . This move resulted in a 25 share on all search
engines in China.
Answer 5.

The specific case of Google raises an important broader question: where can foreign
Internet companies succeed in China? With 384 million Chinese natives and that
number is set to increase, companies see the Internet as a space in which the possibility
exists to make some serious cash. That said, instances such as the Google case
demonstrate that even the most powerful of global Internet companies may be unable
to make the Chinese government change its censorship policies.

The Chinese government’s number one priority is to maintain social order and stability.
The Internet is perceived as a threat to social stability, which is why the government
has implemented restrictive measures such as the Great Firewall of China.

Chinese Govt regulation

The Internet companies most regulated are those that are perceived as possessing
the potential to affect social stability. Internet search and Social Networks (SNS) are
two such areas – thus negatively impacting foreign sites like Google, Face book and
Twitter. If you are a company that provides access to “sensitive” material or provides a
communication platform for natives to unite on “sensitive” topics, then you will continue
to face pressure and restrictions from the Chinese government.

The Internet companies most regulated are those that are perceived as possessing
the potential to affect social stability. Internet search and Social Networks (SNS) are
two such areas – thus negatively impacting foreign sites like Google, Face book and
Twitter. If you are a company that provides access to “sensitive” material or provides a
communication platform for natives to unite on “sensitive” topics, then you will continue
to face pressure and restrictions from the Chinese government.

Potential growth in Internet Market in China

Companies who wish to succeed in China’s Internet space would best stick to areas
that focus on job creation and economic gain that do not overlap with broader social
& societal challenges. The government actively promotes the online gaming industry
and is a great proponent of e-commerce companies like Alibaba Group that connect
people to do business and grow the Chinese economy, rather than connect them in a way
to go against the government.

However areas such as Internet search, Social Networks and other online communication
platforms will continue to be heavily monitored, regulated and even thwarted by the
Chinese government due to the potential impacts such tools have on social interaction
and unification.

Answer 7.
Unlike most companies, which will do whatever it takes to make a profit or gain market
share, Google has set a different example. It has shown that it values decency and
integrity, even when that means standing up to the Chinese government.
Google deserves tremendous respect for acting to protect users’ privacy and security and
upholding the ideals of freedom of information and exchange. The Chinese government
has always been arrogant in dealing with protests of any kind when it comes to
censorship or judicial reform. Google’s departure now teaches millions of people how
much is at stake.
I think the Chinese government is facing enormous pressure even if it pretends that
everything is fine. A society that repudiates freedom of information and speech simply
cannot meet the demands of today’s global competition and development. What the
Chinese government doing is suicidal.If past practice is a guide, China will look for ways
to harm Google’s China operations without being noticed — discreet hints to companies
not to use them and so on. Other Western companies also complain that they are being
pressed by the Chinese to transfer technology, use Chinese standards and generally —
dare I say it — follow the party line.
Google’s pledge to stop censoring search results on Google.cn is a good example of a
company placing corporate responsibility above potential economic harm, and I applaud
them for it.But it is important to remember that Google did not make this pledge because
of the Chinese regime’s position on Internet freedom. For five years Google collaborated
with the Chinese government to censor online information available to the Chinese
public, while touting the benefits of increased engagement.
How far Google can push China, of course, depends on its bargaining power. Does it
have a technology that the Chinese badly need? Possibly, but the Chinese may already
have some of that technology. And while withdrawing would send a message to the
world that life for multinationals in China is getting tougher, global companies already
know that or are about to find out.
References:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international

www.internationalreporter.com/News

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