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Google Asks US For WTO Block On China Censorship

Posted by Soulskill on from the calling-in-the-bantam-artillery dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Google is asking the US government to petition the World Trade Organization to recognize China's censorship as an unfair barrier to trade. The US Trade Representative is reviewing their petition to see if they can prove that China's rules discriminate against foreign competition. At least it's something worthwhile for the US Trade Reps to do, rather than secretly negotiating ACTA."

8 of 115 comments (clear)

  1. Google V China by N3tRunner · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm really quite proud of Google for taking on China over this issue. I understand that China is a big search market and Google is just trying to ensure that it gets every last click out of it, but having uncensored access to Google search is something that Chinese citizens really should have. It's one of their only ways to find news and information that hasn't been filtered through the government's propaganda machine. Obviously, that's why China doesn't want them to be able to use it.

    1. Re:Google V China by Pojut · · Score: 2, Interesting

      "The first condition of progress is the removal of censorship." -George Bernard Shaw

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      Living With a Nerd
    2. Re:Google V China by JordanL · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I'm quite proud of Google as well... because they seem to be going to extraordinary lengths to be a complete pain in the ass the Chinese government on the issue. Not to spite the Chinese, but to make them "play fair".

      Google seemed to realize that until someone made a HUGE fuss over it the status quo would never change.

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    3. Re:Google V China by zappepcs · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Over the years I've heard people talk about social responsibility of corporations. It was always a bit of a joke, but you know what? I think Google was listening too. It's one of the few companies I can think of that I would say is 'socially responsible' as a corporation. There has to be some record somewhere of the first business to take on a government head to head or something along those lines. Does anyone know if this qualifies Google in some special category?

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    4. Re:Google V China by Sir_Lewk · · Score: 2, Interesting

      The East India Trading Company rivaled most governments in power but this is the first time in history something like this has happened, to my knowledge. I'm not sure if I should be happy, or somewhat scared.

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      "linux is just DOS with a UNIX like syntax" -- Galactic Dominator (944134)
    5. Re:Google V China by yuhong · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Not directly, I think they create stats and sell them instead.

  2. Uh, you do realize... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    ... that Google couldn't care less about the civil liberties of the average Chinese citizen. All Google wants is to be the invasive ones in everyone's daily online lives in a background, monitoring sense. Google is probably negotiating deals with China regarding data collection and backdoor eavesdropping.

  3. Re:Internet trade barriers by VGPowerlord · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Internet based trade barriers are everywhere, what immediately also comes to mind is the US block on gambling websites.
    The problem here is that it won't be easy to fight this one when we're not smelling like a rose, either.

    Fun fact: The WTO ruled against the US in the gambling website matter..

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