Google To End Google.cn Redirect

shmG writes "Google Inc. has announced a 'new approach' in China after the government said the company could no longer automatically redirect users to the unfiltered Hong Kong site. This gives Baidu Inc., which already has a greater than 60% share in Internet search in China, a chance to expand. It has announced new plans to hire US engineers to enhance its technical skills and propel its growth globally." Update: 06/29 18:27 GMT by S : Changed the headline to more accurately reflect what Google is doing. They're ending the redirect and applying for a license renewal, so it's still in question whether they'll actually go dark in China. However, they say they're also looking for ways to continue allowing uncensored search, such as putting a high-profile link to their Hong Kong site on the google.cn landing page.

Comments

Official Notice and Explanation

[eldavojohn]

The article is a little confusing on how they're going to change their strategy. The Official Blog has that info:

We have therefore been looking at possible alternatives, and instead of automatically redirecting all our users, we have started taking a small percentage of them to a landing page on Google.cn that links to Google.com.hk—where users can conduct web search or continue to use Google.cn services like music and text translate, which we can provide locally without filtering. This approach ensures we stay true to our commitment not to censor our results on Google.cn and gives users access to all of our services from one page.

Over the next few days we’ll end the redirect entirely, taking all our Chinese users to our new landing page—and today we re-submitted our ICP license renewal application based on this approach.

It's kind of funny, the "landing page" is a false image of a search box and when you click anywhere on the page, you go to Google Hong Kong. How this is okay as opposed to a redirect, I'll never know ... and once that page starts eventually taking users to unfiltered results of Tiananmen Square, I think the Chinese Government will take a few more steps to stop it.

Of course it looks like ibtimes has a policy that only allows them to link to more ibtimes sites instead of -- you know -- the original source of all their quotes.

Re:Official Notice and Explanation

[CherniyVolk]

Considering the average foxcon worker makes $200 a month, or $2400 a year, and the average US high school drop out makes $20,000 a year. So you need roughly 8 chinese users to equal one high school dropout in terms of buying power. So yes, china has the most number of internet users, however, they are quite literally worthless.

Apparently, this guy has never visited another country other than America.

That 2400 dollars a year won't work in America, because all of the exorbitant prices we have because we have people making 20,000 a year.

I was in Thailand in May of 2010. I just got back from Taiwan, three days ago. A double quarter pounder meal in America, specifically California will run you about 10 USD easy (oh and taxes). Do you know how much that exact same meal, at Mc Donalds in Thailand cost? The exchange rate is about 32 to 1, so a Thai national would come to America and 320 baht price tag and think "my god"; you see, in Thailand, that meal (including imported American beef patties) costs maybe 20 baht... less than an American dollar. Oh, did I mention, that's expensive for eating at a restaurant in Thailand too? Food and services is very cheap there, as they are in Taiwan too. Taiwan has a similar exchange rate, Thai Baht is almost 1 to 1.

Housing? Cost of living? Not so much in Taiwan, but food costs seem regulated to keep them down and affordable in Thailand. So those people only making 2000 baht a year, are still eating far better than upper middle class American families, yes upper middle class. Thai nationals literally can have lobster tail and top sirloin steak every meal every day. How many Americans do you know can afford to eat a 30 dollar Lobster meal every day for every meal?

Clothes, Thailand and Taiwan both have extensive textile industries... something America used to have but no longer. Clothes are very cheap in these areas, knock-offs or the real thing. The only time things get expensive are in high-class malls (which do not exist in America at all, the Paragon Mall in Thailand has a Lamborghini, Maserati, BMW, Porsche, Lotus and Bentley car dealerships INSIDE the mall... complete with multiple show cars, on the fourth level... you never seen anything that up scale in America) for their own and global wealthy elite. The Taipei 101 mall in Taiwan is absolutely ridiculous that can rival any stupid little American show on high-rollers in Las Vegas; these malls have watch stores that make Cartier look like a cheap Timex watch on the shelf at Wal-Mart.

So we aren't that high class. We aren't making that much money. Our numbers are very big... but it's akin to a Thai national to brag to you about how much money he drops at the club with his exchange rate being 31 to one... and calling you skimpy. Not fair is it. Nor is it fair for you to use raw numbers to think we have more purchasing power than the chinese who only make 2400 a year. Because, they have PS3s just like you. They have flat screen HDTVs just like you. They have cars, one or two per house hold just like you. Their girls sport Louis Vuitton items, just like the American girl who saves up three or four paychecks to get one herself. They go to clubs, parks and museums, rock concerts and other outings just like you.

If you think the average Chinese population doesn't have purchasing power... you obviously have not been there and looked around. They have night markets galore. They have their own multi-billion dollar companies that you never heard of. They have more expansion and construction building cities up than you have ever witnessed in America at any point in it's history.

Do they have poverty? Oh hell yes. So does America. But, then again. In America poverty equals high-crime and ignoble activities... in China, it's mostly just poverty (you don't stand the chance you do in getting mugged, raped or killed there as you do in American ghettos). Most Americans avoid poor areas of their cities... like the plague. So they get online and talk about how poo

Re:China is the model the west wants to emulate

[FriendlyLurker]

"far-left progressives" do not exist in America, at least not by any definition of "left" that the rest of the world is used to. The Overton Window has shifted Americans so far to the right they no longer know what is left unless it is so extreme as to have a Hammer and Sickle stamped on it.