Google in China

Memorandum

To:        Senior Leaders at Google

CC:        

From:        Kemberly Johnson, MBA student

Date:        3/22/2017

Re:        Google in China

When Google was founded in 1998, the goal was to organize the world’s information and make it useful and accessible for everyone.  This was done and individuals around the world could access information about any and everything, except in China.  China has the second largest population in the world and having their business is key.  But at what cost?  As of 2000, Google maintained their presence in China by developing a Chinese-language version of Google.com, which was filtered by Chinese Internet service providers and was not available to all Chinese users.   In 2006, Google launched its China based Web site Google.cn.  The development of this site forbids the citizens of China from searching any information regarding human right issues or information regarding politics.  Has Google placed profits over human rights?

In China’s constitution, there is an amendment which states individuals have freedom of speech and press.  With the monitoring of the internet and individuals being beat, jailed, or even killed for searching certain information on the web shows the amendment is null and void.  Once Google realized the citizens were being treated this way, there is no way the company should have followed the laws of that country.  There is an article from the New York Times which states “businessmen believe that they are defending free enterprise when they declaim that business is not concerned “merely” with profit but also with promoting desirable “social ends; that business has a social conscience” and takes seriously its responsibilities for providing employment, eliminating discrimination, avoiding pollution and whatever else may be the catchwords of the contemporary crop of reformers”.  Google did not follow the previous statement.  Google has decided to make as much money as possible while conforming to the rules and laws of China.  

When Google realized, the Chinese government were suppressing the freedom of expression of their citizens, some other decisions should have been made or the Chinese government given an ultimatum. Not only could the citizens not search certain things, they couldn’t express issues in their email either.  The 2006 Global Online Act states individuals should have freedom of speech on the net.  Again, this was not occurring in China.  The citizens of China are willing to risk jail for freedom of expression when Google refuses to risk profit.  Does Google only care about themselves and profit?  

When making any decision, Google should put themselves in the shoes of the consumer.  If individuals are being abused and jailed for expressing themselves and Google had to develop a separate site for them without the capability to have excess to the world-wide web, the choice should have been simple: pull of out China.  China is struggling for democracy and freedom and Google is helping in that struggle.  Google was placed on trial behind this and during testimony the VP stated he was not happy with the decision made but decided to follow the laws of China and provide some type of Internet service, which is limited service.  There are several URL’s that can’t be searched in China.  There was an individual in Atlanta, Ga in communication with someone in China and the information he shared was forbidden by the Chinese government.  His information was viewed by someone, which resulted in him being beat and his computer stolen.  The individuals spoke in Korean and were never captured. This occurred in the United States where freedom of speech and expression typically does not result in that type of reaction.  How did someone obtain access to his information in the United States?  The Chinese government is literally calling the shots within your company.