Case Study: Google in China

When Larry Page and Sergy Brin initially introduced the Web online search engine, Google; they did so with one goal in mind, to provide individuals browsing the web for information with the fastest, most reputable online search engine. Because of their creativity and innovation, Google is among the largest and most successful Web online search engine available. With more than 150 domains worldwide, individuals in practically every nation can browse the Web for details about whatever from historic truths to present occasions.

Implanted into the business’s code of ethics is the often quoted expression “don’t be wicked” (Hill, 2009, p. 148). By this, Google indicates the company will not compromise their Standard procedure and will provide searchers with info which is existing and not prejudiced or censored in any method. To Google, their Code of Conduct is likewise about “doing the ideal thing” (Google, 2009, para. 1). Since of Google’s Standard procedure when the company went into China, human rights activists had hopes that the residents of China could browse the Web without the Chinese government censoring the outcomes.

Google did not have a workplace in China so the service was out of the United States. For around 2 years, the Chinese individuals could utilize Google to look for information online. Then in 2002, the Chinese government obstructed access to Google’s site and rather began making searchers use a site approved by the Chinese federal government. When the government later on allowed access to Google, individuals discovered specific sites considered politically delicate were not readily available.

China was blocking sites the government considered subversive. To solve this problem, Google decided to establish an office in China with the goal of providing the Chinese population access to the largest amount of information the company could provide. In essence, Google voluntarily agreed to censor certain results considered subversive by the Chinese government. This created legal and ethical problems of Google being able to live up to the company standards of providing users complete access to all information.

Various Roles the Chinese Government Plays

In 2010, Google discovered their website had been hacked into. Although the company will not say publically whether or not they think the Chinese government was behind the hacking, they did inform the government they would no longer voluntarily censor their search results. According to Branigan “Google claimed the cyber-attack originated from China and that its intellectual property was stolen, but that evidence suggested a primary goal was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists” (Branigan, 2010, para. 14). Google also stated that they found where Gmail accounts of human rights activists living in China, Europe, and the United States were being hacked into by third parties on a routine basis (Branigan, 2010). During February, a statement was released by Secretary of State Clinton concerning the rights of all to have access to the Internet and “pledging to file a formal State Department protest regarding this month’s alleged Google China censorship and hacking” (Baer, 2010, para. 1).

Strategic and Operational Challenges

Because of these latest developments, Google found themselves in the position of needing to make some very difficult decisions. The company needed to decide whether or not they should remain in China and agree to the terms of the Chinese government. These terms essentially meant allowing third parties to access and monitor the company’s site and Gmail accounts. However, Google seems to have found a solution for this dilemma by providing searchers with a link to the company’s uncensored Hong Kong website. The Chinese government seems to be in agreement with this solution and is allowing Google to remain in China for now (Horowitz, 2010).

CONCLUSION

When Google decided to enter the Chinese market, the company did so because they knew how important the Chinese market was for their business. They also realized that China provided an opportunity for the company to grow. However, entering China also resulted in Google being faced with having to make some serious ethical and legal decisions. These decisions include whether Google should continue to censor results on its website or if Google eventually needs to pull out of China. Currently, Google seems to think that giving the Chinese access to some information is better than not granting them access to any information.

References

Baer, M. (2010). _Cyber attacks & the ethical dimension of the Google China episode_. Retrieved from http://globalcomment.com/2010/cyber-attacks-the-ethical-dimension-of-the-google-china-episode/

Branigan, T. (2010). _Google challenge to China over censorship_. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jan/13/google-china-censorship-battle

Google. (2009). _Google Investor Relations Code of Conduct_. Retrieved from
http://investor.google.com/corporate/code-of-conduct.html#I

Hill, C. W. (2009). _International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace_ (7th ed.). Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill Irwin

Horowitz, D. (2010). _Google Still in China_. Retrieved from http://www.daniweb.com/news/story295468.html