Thursday, January 14, 2010

Thursday - Google vs. China

Did you read what's up between Google and China? For years, Google has been censoring the searches that go through its Chinese site (google.cn). (So, for example, Chinese citizens could not access any controversial information about something like Tiananman Square from Google.)

Google announced the other day that they've uncovered sophisticated cyber attacks coming from the Chinese government that attempted to uncover the identity of Google users from around the world who were critical of the Chinese Government. In response, Google is announcing that is scaling back on the self censorship it was doing for the Chinese Government. This will likely lead to the shutdown of Google in China.

This situation brings up a variety of issues like ... Should companies be more concerned with ethics than profits? (Will following ethics actually lead to greater profits?) Should companies negotiate directly with governments, as if they were equal in some ways? Are countries and companies equals? etc.

What do you think about some aspect of this?

37 comments:

  1. It seems to me a difficult question, whether or not countries and companies are equal...I'll have to say no, though. Surely, companies should be protected from countries in some way--they are their own entities--but I think they are in no way equal to a country.

    ~~Obada Ejoh

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  2. Companies shold not be talking to the goverment, they are not equal. It might be a good way to get things done and make your business bigger, but it is a dumb idea cause the government is stronger and businesss are weaker. Not equal.

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  3. Honestly, I could care less for something like this. Its a very popular website and a very popluated country. Its hard to do anything without having problems.

    -Raechel Price

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  4. I dont know what to think-kami flake

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  5. they should work somthing out!
    meng yang

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  6. i think that Google should not let the Chinese access there website anymore. -Tim Blake

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  7. In a perfect world we can hope ethics, morals, and common sense will rise above profits but I do not think something like that is possible... And in the words of Ulysses S. Grant "Let us have peace!"

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  8. i dont really care about things like this to be honest-cameron sanchez

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  9. In a perfect world we can hope ethics, morals, and common sense will rise above profits but I do not think something like that is possible... And in the words of Ulysses S. Grant "Let us have peace!"
    -Lauren Wicke

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  10. these things dont really interest me because i dont feel they affect me so i dont really have an opinion-alyssa tuck

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  11. Google is doing the right thing by leaving the site uncensored

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  12. Well google.com is just... Right, China can't really do anything. It's GOOGLE. google.com should NOT sensor anything. People need to learn about history and about whatever other people do.

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  13. me personaly don't care that much but they can try to work something out i guess, but if they can't google shouldn't allow access to there website in china. it's eaither that or try to find who is causeing the problem though that sounds real tough given the large population in chine.----Alex Payne- ;)

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  14. I do not think that Google should be censoring its searches in China. It isn't fair to the citizens that use China.cn.
    --Sarah Kimmel

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  15. I think China should stop trippin most of the world believes in freedom of speech thats cool if they don't but don't get mad if you want to use the internet and people are talking bad about you

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  16. Well everyone is born free. But over time goverments have beleived that people do not know whats good for them. What google is doing is one more step to a free global soceity. -nate c.

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  17. I think china is worried that the US have better techonolgy then them so thats why they trying find out a way to steal it or mess it up...
    Chris Lowure

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  18. The company should indeed be more concerned about ethics,as opposed to profits.It would just save them some issues in the long run.
    -Myata Bryant

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  19. i think they should work something out
    ~Mercedes =)

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  20. Ya i think that compnays should be concern about etheics and opposed to profits. So they will not get stabbed in the back later on

    Fred Turner

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  21. A company should be mroe concerned about ethics than profits. The majority of the time, it will save the company money in the long run.

    -Joey Coscarelli

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  22. I dont understand wat going on but china will win
    Theresa B

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  23. no i dont think that countries and companies are the same. they should not need to compramise with countries.
    ~*~Elena Herrera~*~

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  24. oh actually i don't have any information about this issue , but i think google is the beggest company ever , almost everybody use the google because it's in english language but not every ody know how to speek chinese ,english language are the most whidespread language which means google will be better
    ban baraya

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  25. they need to work out something and they companies should be more concern about ethics than profits.i think they should more concern about ethics than profits
    -angleica martinez

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  26. i don't understand what is going now but i think US will win or both will lose it.
    -Nelson Mandela

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  27. Mmm. Thats a hard question but, the countries and companies are most definitely not equal.

    -Quatica :)

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  28. In my opinion, ethnics are a litle bit more important than profits. I think the Chinese should be punished somehow for abusing the use of google but really I don't know....it's all just another example of what this world is turning in to. Peopl will continue to do things they know are wrong. -Jessica Z.

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  29. to keep it real i dont care. =)
    -Chelsey n. Clark

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  30. I don't know what china is supposed to do with anything if they do find out stuff from their 'cyber attacks'. What difference would it make if they did find out that we said negative things about them. So what? What's your whole goal in this? Google should leave China because they fail.
    -Brenda T 4th hour

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  31. umm they should work something out but i dont care =D ~DeAnna Mullins

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  32. "Companies shold not be talking to the goverment, they are not equal. It might be a good way to get things done and make your business bigger, but it is a dumb idea cause the government is stronger and businesss are weaker. Not equal."
    Thats the one of the the most unintelligent things I have ever read. If goverments and buisiness communicate it could ultimently help the people of the country get what they really need.
    Plus equality in power or in money, etc. shouldnt matter. Nothing should run off a class system.

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  33. I havent really read up on this. But It seems complicated.

    -Bryonna Trevino

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  34. Let china get rid of google. Sucks for the chinese people and it sucks for google. But thats what happens when the goverment gets to choose whats there and not.
    -Amelia T

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  35. google should not deal with governments due to the fact that google is a company not a country not even a type of government. -Billy Hundt

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  36. i dont think google should deal with china, china has enough stuff, they dont need google lol. but google shouldnt deal with govts, it should just deal with other companies.
    -Tyler Hoover

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