Google may leave China
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/15/google.china.jpg caption="Google China headquarters in Beijing"]
CNN
Google appears to be getting closer to shutting down its strictly monitored search engine in China, according to news reports.
The reports, which cited people close to the situation, indicate that Google advertisers in China are being advised to switch over to rival Baidu Inc., out of fears that Google could abandon the country.
Following a targeted cyber attack on Gmail accounts emanating from China in December, Google announced on Jan. 12 that it intended to give all of its users open access to the Internet.
Google has since been negotiating with the Chinese government, as such a move would clash with China's censorship laws. Those laws forbid access to Internet sites that criticize the government, display pornography or promote certain religious material.
A spokeswoman for Google declined to comment specifically on the negotiations, but reiterated the company's intentions to remain an open-access site and said Google will soon make an announcement on the outcome of its dealings with China.
|
|
Filed under: China • Technology |
About this Show:
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°
Subscribe to the podcast
On Twitter
Search the AC360 blog
Just leave!
Good riddence.
It's about time that Google takes a stand against China and all other corporations should follow the same – there is no fair dealing with the communist government who operates more like the mofia.
Negotiations if prolonged become confrontations.
I don't blame Google for leaving China at all since they are trying to censor them too much. Who really would want to stay in China when they are trying to run everyone's business for them?
One way or another the people there will get information from other sources that their government thinks that they shouldn't have. Does the Chinese government really think that they can stop everything from getting in? Where there is a will there is always a way.
Cindy...Ga.
GOOD!!! Every U.S. company should leave that place. Unless your using cheap manufacturing labor there, what are the benefits? A huge oppressed population of "customers"? Yeah right!!! If companies were faced with a choice between the U.S. market and the Chinese market, you would see companies and jobs return here.