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China Warns of 'Consequences' in Google's Plans

By - Source: Tom's Guide US | B 64 comments

Google is getting closer to uncensoring search results for China, but China says such an act would be "unfriendly and irresponsible."

While things have been relatively quiet recently on the Google and China feud from January, things flared up recently after Google CEO Eric Schmidt was quoted by the Wall Street Journal as saying that "something will happen soon" in the matter of Google's operations in China.

People familiar with the matter say that Google isn't likely to withdraw from the country entirely, but it could be making a bold move to cease censorship of search results generated by Google's search engine.

Such a move would undoubtedly put the search giant in direct odds with the Chinese government. According to Reuters, China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Li Yizhong, acknowledged, "Google has made its case, both publicly and privately," but did not confirm or deny if his ministry was in talks with Google.

When reporters asked what China would do in response to Google offering uncensored results, Li responded, "If you don't respect Chinese laws, you are unfriendly and irresponsible, and the consequences will be on you."

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  • 24 Hide
    omnimodis78 , March 12, 2010 8:10 PM
    Oh yeah, not letting your own citizens google about what kind of yacht central party members own, or how many homes they own, or maybe actually being able to learn the truth about the Tiananmen Square massacre sure is very "friendly and responsible" on the CCP's part! Obviously their mission is just and honourable... [sarcasm]
  • 21 Hide
    dreamphantom_1977 , March 12, 2010 7:51 PM
    Google - Just pull out.
  • 20 Hide
    velozzity , March 12, 2010 7:58 PM
    Isn't Google dealing with the same country that massacred college students for bucking their system, wake up google and smell the roses, you cannot force these people to give up there stranglehold on their citizens, and the only thing that will result is your employees stationed there either being jailed for breaking chinese law....On a side note every day the U.S. government gets deeper and deeper in dept, dept that is financed in a large part by who else, China
Other Comments
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  • -4 Hide
    the_ub , March 12, 2010 7:44 PM
    Is this really a wise thing to do Google? especially in light of the recent hacks of American companies from... CHINA?! RIP...
  • 21 Hide
    dreamphantom_1977 , March 12, 2010 7:51 PM
    Google - Just pull out.
  • 20 Hide
    velozzity , March 12, 2010 7:58 PM
    Isn't Google dealing with the same country that massacred college students for bucking their system, wake up google and smell the roses, you cannot force these people to give up there stranglehold on their citizens, and the only thing that will result is your employees stationed there either being jailed for breaking chinese law....On a side note every day the U.S. government gets deeper and deeper in dept, dept that is financed in a large part by who else, China
  • 5 Hide
    igot1forya , March 12, 2010 8:00 PM
    Admit it already, Google already paid the consequences of entering the Chinese market place... they got hacked. What else could they do invade?
  • 24 Hide
    omnimodis78 , March 12, 2010 8:10 PM
    Oh yeah, not letting your own citizens google about what kind of yacht central party members own, or how many homes they own, or maybe actually being able to learn the truth about the Tiananmen Square massacre sure is very "friendly and responsible" on the CCP's part! Obviously their mission is just and honourable... [sarcasm]
  • 16 Hide
    JasonAkkerman , March 12, 2010 8:15 PM
    It just goes to prove: All you need is money and you can take on the government.
  • 12 Hide
    tayb , March 12, 2010 8:16 PM
    I agree with Google's stance here but unless they get together with Microsoft (and Yahoo) this really is a lost cause. Refusing to censor search results will not have any positive effect for Chinese citizens but could severely damage Google's reputation in one of the most populous countries in the world.

    Microsoft. I'm looking at you. Don't let google go this alone. Don't sit by and watch thinking about the profits you could make once Google bails.
  • -3 Hide
    Anonymous , March 12, 2010 8:29 PM
    velozzity said: "Isn't Google dealing with the same country that massacred college students for bucking their system"

    Well, if we see tanks rolling through the Google lobby, with Eric standing in their path, we'll have a decent idea of what's going on.

    (black humour only, no offense intended by the Tiananmen reference)
  • 11 Hide
    haunted one , March 12, 2010 8:31 PM
    I support Google. Someone needs to stand up to this Bull**** or the Chinese govt will become overly dominating.

    I truly won't be surprised if China begins mass invasions in the future, with the support of its largely misinformed and brainwashed citizens. Its population is kept misinformed precisely by this censorship.
  • 5 Hide
    pink315 , March 12, 2010 8:50 PM
    dreamphantom_1977Google - Just pull out.


    Just pull out, thats the friendly thing to do :) 
  • -4 Hide
    bison88 , March 12, 2010 8:56 PM
    Danger Will Robinson Danger, Google is to America has North Korea is to China, Danger Will Robinson Danger
  • 8 Hide
    Gin Fushicho , March 12, 2010 8:59 PM
    Irresponsible? Seriously? China is irresponsible in so many ways that I don't know where to start. Wait , I do , the censorship in the first place was irresponsible of China , as Google is supposed to be a world wide search engine anyway.
  • -3 Hide
    silky salamandr , March 12, 2010 9:03 PM
    Well they need to do what ive been doin for years when you find yourself in a "slippery situation"; When in doubt,pull out!
  • 12 Hide
    tenor77 , March 12, 2010 9:21 PM
    China: Stay out of my way, or you'll pay. Listen to what I say.
    Google: Yeah, why don't I go eat some hay. I can make things out of clay, or lay by the bay, I just may. Whaddya say?
  • -4 Hide
    el-guapo , March 12, 2010 9:23 PM
    I don't get it, you go to a foreign country to do business, but you refuse to not abide by their laws?

    As much as I don't agree with their government, their laws must be respected. Google is just pulling a publicity stunt to gain popularity on non-communist countries, that's all.
  • -4 Hide
    el-guapo , March 12, 2010 9:24 PM
    I don't get it, you go to a foreign country to do business, but you refuse to not abide by their laws?

    As much as I don't agree with their government, their laws must be respected. Google is just pulling a publicity stunt to gain popularity on non-communist countries, that's all.
  • 0 Hide
    one-shot , March 12, 2010 9:32 PM
    tenor77China: Stay out of my way, or you'll pay. Listen to what I say.Google: Yeah, why don't I go eat some hay. I can make things out of clay, or lay by the bay, I just may. Whaddya say?


    I wish I could give you + 20 for that reference.
  • -3 Hide
    RooD , March 12, 2010 9:34 PM
    Google gets what they no sympathy from me for what happens to them...

    You cant disobey law just because it is not a fair or just one...

    Here in america i cant be a drug dealer... i dont think anti drug laws are right ( not gonna go into why) but i cant just do or sell drugs and think i can get away with it
  • 2 Hide
    Tindytim , March 12, 2010 10:12 PM
    I really don't care what any countries laws are in this case. The fact of the matter is, it's simply two entities attempting to leverage their power to push their own ideology. I seriously doubt Google is going to win, but this could lead to an in road in the future. It would be better if more companies that don't agree with China (AKA most companies in the world) took the stand Google did. As powerful as they seem, and as large as their numbers are, they still depend on the rest of the World, specifically American Companies. They all pull out, and China is going to have to reevaluate, and will probably go the way of Russia.

    RooDbut i cant just do or sell drugs and think i can get away with it

    That's why there aren't any people selling or doing drugs sucessfullly, Oh wait.
  • 6 Hide
    p05esto , March 12, 2010 10:16 PM
    Screw China, block their IPs all together coming to the US. Seriously, we should ban all trade and communication with China, there are other sources. Our economy would probably improve if we forced some products to be made in the US instead of China slave labor. We'd have to pay more as consumers, but let's put our citizens back to work, not the Chinese.
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