Google's Decision on China

Many may recall Google’s troubles in China which began in January. After some of its users’ accounts were hacked, Google threatened to leave China based on hacking and censorship concerns. The company is expected to make an announcement on Monday communicating its decision of whether or not to leave China. In January they had said the company would remain in China if self-censorship rules were lifted. China has denied that this is an option. Wired.com presented three possible paths that Google could choose to pursue in their current situation. http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/03/scenarios-whats-next-for-googles-operations-in-china/

The first option involves Google partially leaving China. Here their popular search engine would be removed, but their Chinese R&D centers, sales and customer service staff and engineers could remain in operation. One of the initiatives these groups work on is Google’s Android operating system. The second option calls for Google to pull all services and operations out of China completely. The third option would be for Google to remain in China in all aspects of its operations. Under this option Google would most likely be forced to continue self-censorship of its search engine.

I think that the first option would be best. With this decision, Google would be standing by its motto of “Don’t do evil” by no longer participating in the self-censorship of its search engine. It seems that Google is going to be unsuccessful in changing the Chinese government’s laws on censorship, and I believe this is the next best option. Google would be showing they do not agree with and support such censorship. By keeping its R&D centers, sales and customer service staff and engineers in China, Google would be keeping these workers employed. In addition, companies such as Dell and Lenovo would still have the opportunity to utilize Android-based phones to enter the Chinese cell phone market, and software developers would have the opportunity to develop apps for these phones. The reputation of the company would improve in the eyes of their employees and shareholders and in the eyes of human rights activists. Also, by continuing to remain active in China, Google may have the opportunity in the future to restart their search engine services. This may occur if China does decide to change its censorship laws at some point down the road. If Google was to remove themselves completely from the country they might not be allowed back in.