Reactions to Google

By now, most have probably read this morning’s announcement by Google stating that it was a victim of a cyber attack in which numerous Google accounts belonging to China-based human rights activists were hacked. Currently, Google is planning on meeting with the Chinese government to negotiate an agreement allowing an “an unfiltered search engine within the law,” or it will consider leaving the China market altogether.

Given this event, along with censorship and filtering, and controversies over Google Books, I can understand their frustration.

The company’s message has met with mixed reactions. As expected, Google’s decision was lauded by human rights activists and free speech advocates alike. Others in China are silently smirking at the fact that someone is finally standing up to one of the world’s most infamous internet censors. However, as the New York Times reports, some also have questioned the business logic of such a decision:

"While Google’s business in China is small, analysts say that the country could soon become one of the most lucrative Internet and mobile markets, and a withdrawal would significantly reduce Google’s long-term growth."

The China Daily made a similar report, arguing that with a 33.1% share of China’s search engine industry, Google is going to losing out if it leaves the mainland. It quotes Tang Jun, the former Microsoft China CEO as saying, “"The decision is not a big deal for Chinese netizens, but this will be the most foolish decision in Google's history, To give up China means to give up half of the world."

However, the general reaction has been one of support. ChinaSMACK, a blog which translates popular discussions from Chinese chat rooms, recently translated Chinese netizens’ reaction to Google’s decision. The original post was critical, chastising Google for reacting so strongly while other Chinese sites did not make such a public display, and for not taking sufficient care of its users’ security. However, subsequent posts were supportive of Google, praising the company for putting morals before profit. The Wall Street Journal Blog in China has also done a piece on students in Beijing visiting the Google office and showing support by placing flowers on the logo in front.

With that said, I do not expect an uproar here. First of all, most Chinese use Baidu.com, a local search engine. Baidu has numerous functions, including a useful Chinese dictionary, rankings for popular music and music downloads (which it had before Google.cn came out with its own legal version), and a Baidu zhi dao (Baidu knows) which has answers to countless questions ranging from directions to definitions to where to get the best deal. It is what a large number of Chinese netizens use to find information (as reflected by the China Daily statistics). In addition, information controls, and sites blocked or shut down have almost become a way of life here. The blockage of a website is not viewed in terms such as liberty and human rights as it might be debated in the United States. Instead, it has simply become another nuisance not unlike a traffic jam; it is frustrating until you find a way around it.