On a politically tough wicket, Google has finally announced that it is going to provide residents in China with uncensored results. Search Results from Google Search, Google News and Google Images are no longer being censored, and users visiting Google.cn are being redirected to the search giants Hong Kong page. This move follows earlier threats by Google to start uncensoring results in China, where it trails market leader Baidu. A report in the official Chinese news agency Xinhua mentions talks with Google on January 29th and Feb 25th, which obviously failed. China just isn't playing ball... While Google says that "the Chinese government has been crystal clear throughout our discussions that self-censorship is a non-negotiable legal requirement," I don't think one should look at this move merely from a censorship and freedom of speech perspective. Google chose to censor its results keeping in mind its business objectives in China while operating in the country for four years, until January this year. An attack on Google services in January was believed to originate from China, and was used to access accounts of human rights activists connected to China. So the attack helped Google find its conscience? A translated version of Google's Hong Kong page: China is clearly furious. A statement in Xinhua states that "It is unfair for Google to impose its own value and yardsticks on Internet regulation to China, which has its own time-honored tradition, culture and value...Google is currently at a crossroad. Whether it eventually leaves the Chinese market or…
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