Google talks with the Chinese government

Posted on January 19, 2010 by Marek

Representatives of Google began talks with the Chinese government about the future of search engine in the Middle Kingdom. Settlement is expected next week, reports Bloomberg. Google wants to stay in China, but subject to the completion of search results censorship. The Chinese government has invited to the cooperation of all who abide by Chinese law what means among the others to censor the Internet.

Not much you can see there is scope for compromise, and it seems that Google found itself in a difficult situation.

If the heads of the Mountain View search engine will not agree to censorship of search results they are likely to have quit the Chinese office and complete the activities in the Middle Kingdom. It is hard to believe that the Chinese government agrees to let Google show uncensored search results.

Firstly, because of the policy, and secondly because of Baidu.

Chinese search engine collaborates with the government and it’s the most popular in China. If Google began to show everything for example, is what everyone except the Chinese audience see by entering the word “Tiananmen“, the popularity of Baidu could significantly decrease. And this is second reason, although not as significant as the first.

But what if the heads of Google’s consent to the conditions of the Chinese government?

They will remain on the market which is huge. eMarketer.com estimates that by 2013 China will has 840 million of Internet users. It’s about over 400 million more than last year. Unlikely that any global company gave a competitive market (and yet shares of Google in the Chinese market is subject for Baidu, Bing and Yahoo to share between them).

However, if Google the bow and will continue cenzorować search results? They will burst very seriously their image.

Question for search engine owners of what proves to be more important?

Photo: The Economist