Herald Editorial: Google shouldn’t give up in China despite security breach

When Google announced that it might abandon its ventures in China, users of Google’s technology brought flowers to Google’s headquarters in China. Google’s sign at their office in China is short and modest, and with flowers stuck between the raised letters of the company logo and still more flowers heaped all along its base the sign looks like the tombstone of a fresh grave.

In many ways, the scene at the Google headquarters was a funereal. Dressed in winter attire, people stood around by the flower-covered sign out front, many wearing the expression of a funeral-goer who wonders how long they should hang around — how long before it’s clear that they are sad that Google is leaving.

One person even left a card thanking Google for “holding values over profits.”

Google announced its possible withdrawal on their Web site soon after finding evidence that links the Chinese government to a security breach at their headquarters. The breach involved a cyber-attack on the e-mail accounts of human rights advocates in China.

Google did, however, expect resistance from China’s government, according to Google’s online statement. The differences between their respective philosophies regarding the freedom of information are irreconcilable. But now the issue is one of security for Google. Further attacks on their networks could compromise both the perceived and actual security of their networks worldwide.

Plus, Google has told the public that it is unwilling to continue censoring Web content on behalf of the government. Their role in censorship was the source of great hesitation for Google when it deliberated its entry into China in 2006, according to Google’s official blog. They chose to cooperate with the Chinese government censors on the premise that it was as free as its government would allow was a better option than not entering China, and thereby excluding them from the informational revolution that the Internet has fueled.

Since entering China, Google has participated in censoring China’s Internet. Back in 2006, after deciding to compromise with China on the issue of censorship, Google vowed “to carefully monitor conditions in China, including new laws and other restrictions on our services. If we determine that we are unable to achieve the objectives outlined we will not hesitate to reconsider our approach to China,” according to a press release regarding Google’s possible withdrawal.

While cyber-attacks on Google’s infrastructure are clearly unacceptable and therefore could warrant Google’s departure, Google should not leave China because of unwillingness to cooperate with censorship.

Google entered China hoping to tear down the walls of censorship. Their reasoning was that even a censored Google is better than a search engine controlled by a government. That reasoning is still valid, and remains valid regardless of the levels of censorship imposed upon Web content. It is in the best interest of Chinese Web users for Google to remain in China.

Indeed, Google’s withdrawal could be a major setback both for the people of China and the advancement of the Internet.

In championing the cause of free speech, Google has become a symbol for that freedom and its defense. Google’s exit from China could be perceived as a flight that confirms the defeat of an ideal.

Google should stay because it has inroads and power that are far greater than anything politicians worldwide — including the US— can wield. Bringing in information and the truth of the world beyond the sheltering of censors is something no country can do for the Chinese.

Google should stay in China. By remaining in China, Google could demonstrate the power of the global community to which it grants access — the power to adapt and to defy the efforts of censors.

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=14725

Posted by heraldstaff on Feb 10 2010. Filed under Editorial, Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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