Google Is Handing the Future of the Internet to China • Hacker News Board

Re: Google Is Handing the Future of the Internet to China

#11

Post by 07d046 » Wed, Sep 12, 2018, 9:11 AM UTC

faag39 wrote: post #6

Since this censored version of the search engine will only work in China, I don't see how they are "handing the future of the Internet" to them.

It's arguing that China could leverage Google's Chinese market access to influence how Google behaves around the world, sort of like how almost all airlines around the world now say Taiwan is part of China:

> Once Google’s new Chinese business is up and running, there will be nothing to stop Beijing from seeking to dictate how references to Taiwan are addressed not just in China but throughout the site globally. China may also demand to shape how protests in Taiwan, Hong Kong, or the mainland are addressed or what happens when people search for dissidents such as Liu Xiaobo or topics such as human rights. While Google executives may believe that their company would never accede to such requests outside of China’s borders, there are no guarantees. If China gains the leverage to shape how Google presents what Beijing considers to be sensitive topics throughout the rest of the world, it will deal a mortal blow to international principles of freedom of expression and thought.

Re: Google Is Handing the Future of the Internet to China

#12

Post by StreakyCobra » Wed, Sep 12, 2018, 9:13 AM UTC

«In May, Google quietly removed “Don’t be evil” from the text of its corporate code of conduct, deleting a catchphrase that had been associated with the company since 2000.»

So it is now official, Google can not longer be considered as "not Evil". And we know this thanks to this sentence that has finally served as a warrant canary.

Re: Google Is Handing the Future of the Internet to China

#13

Post by ctack » Wed, Sep 12, 2018, 9:23 AM UTC

faag39 wrote: post #6

Since this censored version of the search engine will only work in China, I don't see how they are "handing the future of the Internet" to them.

Beijing currently influences it's weaker trading partners(which is most of the developing world) on various political points. For example - Taiwan policy or Dalai Lama visits.

It's not hard to imagine China then asking them to use their "new and improved" version of Google too.

Re: Google Is Handing the Future of the Internet to China

#14

Post by eastendguy » Wed, Sep 12, 2018, 9:24 AM UTC

07d046 wrote: post #11

faag39 wrote: post #6

Since this censored version of the search engine will only work in China, I don't see how they are "handing the future of the Internet" to them.

It's arguing that China could leverage Google's Chinese market access to influence how Google behaves around the world, sort of like how almost all airlines around the world now say Taiwan is part of China: > Once Google’s new Chinese business is up and running, there will be nothing to stop Beijing from seeking to dictate how references to Taiwan are addressed not just in China but throughout the site globally. Chin…

I wish I had a super-upvote button. That is exactly my concern... once Google's China revenue is a significant part of the revenue, exactly this will happen. The European car manufactures already do everything that China wants. But at least they do not run a search engine or newspaper.

"Proof:" Google for "Mercedes apologies to China after quoting Dalai Lama" in a tweet for its European customers.

Re: Google Is Handing the Future of the Internet to China

#15

Post by wildebaard » Wed, Sep 12, 2018, 9:29 AM UTC

faag39 wrote: post #9

YouKnowBetter wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I presume that is on the premissis that every other state / regime will be able to leverage that deal between Google & China to black out whatever they think is not PC in their country.

I live in the EU where there's no freedom of speech and Google and the rest of tech companies are already being told about what they have to censor. I don't see how this is anything new. It's only in the news because it's China.

What makes you say there is no freedom of speech in the EU? I also live there but I do not experience it like that.

Re: Google Is Handing the Future of the Internet to China

#16

Post by jamespo » Wed, Sep 12, 2018, 9:29 AM UTC

ctack wrote: post #13

faag39 wrote: post #6

Since this censored version of the search engine will only work in China, I don't see how they are "handing the future of the Internet" to them.

Beijing currently influences it's weaker trading partners(which is most of the developing world) on various political points. For example - Taiwan policy or Dalai Lama visits. It's not hard to imagine China then asking them to use their "new and improved" version of Google too.

Slippery slope argument

Re: Google Is Handing the Future of the Internet to China

#17

Post by j88439h84 » Wed, Sep 12, 2018, 9:32 AM UTC

StreakyCobra wrote: post #12

«In May, Google quietly removed “Don’t be evil” from the text of its corporate code of conduct, deleting a catchphrase that had been associated with the company since 2000.» So it is now official, Google can not longer be considered as "not Evil". And we know this thanks to this sentence that has finally served as a warrant canary.

"And remember… don’t be evil, and if you see something that you think isn’t right – speak up!

Last updated July 31, 2018"

https://abc.xyz/investor/other/google-code-of-conduct.html

Re: Google Is Handing the Future of the Internet to China

#18

Post by yAnonymous » Wed, Sep 12, 2018, 9:34 AM UTC

The censor ship has long sailed and its first passengers were American copyright shills, followed by European criminals who wanted their crimes to be removed from Google.

Re: Google Is Handing the Future of the Internet to China

#19

Post by yAnonymous » Wed, Sep 12, 2018, 9:40 AM UTC

wildebaard wrote: post #15

faag39 wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live in the EU where there's no freedom of speech and Google and the rest of tech companies are already being told about what they have to censor. I don't see how this is anything new. It's only in the news because it's China.

What makes you say there is no freedom of speech in the EU? I also live there but I do not experience it like that.

German here. Our government has pressured Facebook to allow private corporations (that of course are close to the government) to delete Facebook content -posts and pages with millions of followers- for political reasons as they see fit.

The legal process was completely removed. They use this to help their election campaigns by branding government critical content as extremist and having it removed without due process.

You'd think that when they remove content like that, they'd report the offenders to legal authorities -because after all, they are only allowed to remove content that is clearly illegal- but in most cases they don't. They just want the content gone and move on, which makes it very clear that this is just a censorship tool and their generous interpretation of illegal hate speech wouldn't hold up in any court.

Re: Google Is Handing the Future of the Internet to China

#20

Post by tanilama » Wed, Sep 12, 2018, 9:42 AM UTC

Interesting title. What future would Google have, regarding China, if it doesn't even exist in that country?

By exiting China, except pleasing the those moral puritans, I fail to see what exactly Google achieves. China now has a self-contained internet ecosystem, which is moderated and censored by the party's will, yet vibrant and providing countless business potential and shaping the society at breakneck speed. The only one holds China's internet's future is apparently, China.