DailyTech - Google to Censor Material For China

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IT Google to Censor Material For China
Michael Hoffman (Blog) - January 25, 2006 2:03 AM

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14 comment(s) - last by WhipperSnapper.. on Jan 26 at 6:58 AM

Although Chinese Internet users can use google.com, having access to google.cn will ultimately be better in the long run

The popular search engine Google has announced its plans to offer a version of its search engine for users in China. Although Google has denied the U.S. federal government rights to search data, the company has bowed down and agreed to censor content in order to please the Chinese government. The decision to release a censored version of the search engine shouldn't be too shocking; China has openly kept its intention to censor data no secret. Some analysts already speculate that the number of Internet search users in China may increase from 100 million to 187 million people by 2007.

Chinese residents have had access to Google.com but the strict restrictions by the Chinese Government often made searching for items almost useless. Some of the words that will not yield results include "free Tibet," "democracy" and "Falun Gong."

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yay china

By sandytheguy on 1/25/2006 2:53:21 AM , Rating: 3

It doesn't seem right that American corporations should profit by helping another country supress free speech.

RE: yay china

By pbrain on 1/25/06, Rating: 0

RE: yay china

By Lakeshow on 1/25/2006 6:32:14 AM , Rating: 1

Google make profits in China regardless, what's your point?

That they should make profits by censoring instead of giving freedom of information?

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RE: yay china

By rqle on 1/25/2006 6:45:11 AM , Rating: 2

why so negative, he just saying it better for the chinese people that their government to allow free media, i thought that a good thing for china. I thought it was a positive comment in help of china people, he was just trying to help. does ever news that involve the "not so good thing about china" have to turn into an attack on america.

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Woot, China!

By knowyourenemy on 1/25/2006 10:38:00 AM , Rating: 1

As George Washington said, we shouldn't even be involving ourselves in foreign affairs.

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RE: yay china

By Brainonska511 on 1/25/2006 11:26:17 AM , Rating: 2

It's not right, but you have to look at Google's side:

If they don't do it, another American (or another country) company will be happy to do it for China and that new company will be making the money and not Google.

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Censorship = anti-internet

By Creig on 1/25/2006 8:09:00 AM , Rating: 2

I was under the impression that the fundamental idea behind the internet is the spread of information, not the censorship of it.

"Boo" to Google for helping the Chinese government rewrite history for its citizens simply to make a few extra bucks with banner advertisements.

quote:
A survey last August revealed Google was losing market share to Beijing-based rival Baidu.com.

RE: Censorship = anti-internet

By bupkus on 1/25/2006 10:14:51 AM , Rating: 2

Google wants a foot-in-the-door. From there users will increasingly become dependent on their service which should give Google power and room to play.
Google doesn't seem to me to be a typical money grubbing corporation. I'm curious what they're up to and what they hope to achieve in China.

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RE: Censorship = anti-internet

By littleprince on 1/25/2006 11:03:55 AM , Rating: 1

Why are we always the ones to judge whos right and who's wrong? Why is our way of life always so much better than others?

The thread the other day about the black man being harrased by officers while taking photos for his photography class shows how much a like America is now with China and the middle east.

It's pretty hypocritical to judge them and not judge yourselves.

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RE: Censorship = anti-internet

By datacore4 on 1/25/2006 11:31:57 AM , Rating: 1

Oh yea! You got it dude. It wasn't too long ago that segrigation was prevelant in United States despite the common "freedom" bullsh*t we hear all the time. Come down south, you will still see racist ideas and thoughts by those fundamentalist Christian around here. And they have no problem following them if the laws will allow them to. And here in America we talk about freedon so much....heh, kinda Ironic. America was the last country to stop slavery, and last in so many wonderful things that most of the world have abolished, but when it comes to rethoric, America is first at that, heh.

Watch, some possibly racist dude will post a reply to my post saying/yelling/cursing how wrong I am.....heheh

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RE: yay china

By feraltoad on 1/25/2006 3:31:03 AM , Rating: 3

American Corporation is an oxy-moron. "American"(any large) corps. are now international entities that suck the blood out of whoever they can. They are much more dangerous than communists IMO. Also, can't people in China use proxy filters to get around the censorchip? I've done that w/ a few Counter-Strike forums after being done wrong by jerkwad admins. Of course, I don't think a bullet in the head was really a possible outcome there, for me anyway :)

censoring

By goku on 1/26/2006 5:17:33 AM , Rating: 2

I thought google.cn censored their material.. But when I try it out, I get results despite being "banned words".
http://www.google.cn/search?hl=zh-CN&q=democracy&b...
http://www.google.cn/search?hl=zh-CN&q=free+tibet&...
http://www.google.cn/search?hl=zh-CN&q=Falun+Gong&...

.....!?!

Losing American Jobs -- for this?

By WhipperSnapper on 1/26/2006 6:58:13 AM , Rating: 2

This is the country that we're exporting our economy to and becoming indebted to? One day, China will own the U.S. and the U.S. will be known as "New India", having suffered from overpopulation and the widespread impoverishment of its populace.