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Google Brings Map Service Back To China (nikkei.com)

Posted by msmash on from the second-time's-the-charm dept.

Google has relaunched its map service in China after an eight-year absence, signaling a new era of cooperation between the American internet giant and local partners in fields such as artificial intelligence, reports Nikkei. From the report: Chinese netizens hailed the revival of Google Maps on Monday as the American company's great return to China, where its trademark search and other services have been unavailable since 2010. While Google began offering a translation app for Chinese smartphones in March 2017, the map service reaches far more users as one of Google's best-known offerings. The company has set up a China-specific version of the Google Maps website and introduced a map app for Chinese iPhones. But when users of the app attempt to use its navigation features, they are automatically transferred to an app from AutoNavi, a mapping company owned by Chinese internet leader Alibaba Group Holding.

19 comments

  1. No... by bogaboga · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Google has relaunched its map service in China after an eight-year absence, signaling a new era of cooperation between the American internet giant and local partners in fields such as artificial intelligence, reports Nikkei.

    I beg to disgree, and must posit as below: -

    Google, like many other big [American] companies, blinked, period!

    1. Re:No... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      NO. Google maps did not return to China. It's still blocked.

    2. Re:No... by hazardPPP · · Score: 1

      Google has relaunched its map service in China after an eight-year absence, signaling a new era of cooperation between the American internet giant and local partners in fields such as artificial intelligence, reports Nikkei.

      I beg to disgree, and must posit as below: -

      Google, like many other big [American] companies, blinked, period!

      And why is this a surprise? They already fully co-operate with the NSA just fine back in the US, they'll feel right at home doing the same with the Chinese intelligence agencies.

  2. Don't be merely evil! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Don't be merely evil!

    Make as much money as you can selling out to repressive regimes, all along strip-mining the privacy of everyone you can.

    1. Re: Don't be merely evil! by saloomy · · Score: 1

      It's not googles job to dictate to China what the laws should be. That's up to the Chinese and their system of government. If their citizens have a problem with their government and we wish to help them, fine. But a private entity is not the vehicle to do that, it's out government and military. Google doesn't have any authority in China but to follow Chinese laws or stay out. Sorry

    2. Re: Don't be merely evil! by aussie_a · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It is up to Google where they do business. Their motto wasn't "don't break the law" it was "don't do evil". Google has demonstrated they don't hold to (if they ever did) one of their claimed founding principles all in the name of the almighty buck.

      As a member of the public, I can have an opinion of Google based on this and because I'm not in China I can voice that opinion.

    3. Re: Don't be merely evil! by saloomy · · Score: 1

      Yes you do. But you think China is evil because they have different policies than your beliefs. That doesn't make them evil. And even if they were, what harm can giving Chinese consumers access to map data do? The state already knows enough through their own services. There's not much more bad that can be done by giving them access to more mapping applications.

    4. Re: Don't be merely evil! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What harm? None, because maps in China are purposely shifted.

      Google probably implemented the government requires shifting which explains why they can't do navigation.

      What harm can shifting maps do? Ask your neighbors if they don't mind the city shifting the lot line maps a few feet in any random direction and see if they have a positive reaction.

    5. Re: Don't be merely evil! by jrumney · · Score: 1

      Their motto wasn't "don't break the law" it was "don't do evil"

      Actually it was "Don't, BE evil".

  3. This is nonsense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've bern using Google Maps in China for the last n years, on phones bought outside China.

    What this means is that they are going to remove some functionality.

    1. Re:This is nonsense by amicusNYCL · · Score: 1

      I've bern using Google Maps in China for the last n years

      Bullshit, it wasn't even available then. At the most you've been using it for M years, but more likely only L.

      --
      "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
  4. Do no evil... by 110010001000 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...just partner with them.

    1. Re:Do no evil... by alvinrod · · Score: 1

      I think it just goes to show that simplistic ideas of good and evil are useless as soon as they come into contact with the real world.

      If China is so evil would it be good for us to overthrow them and liberate its people, or is that too an evil act? If this makes life better for the average person in China, then it's pointless to spend much time worrying over whether or not Google makes an extra buck or where this action rates on some kind of morality scale that the people who like to chide Google for failing to follow couldn't stick to either even if they tried. Part or probably most of the devices people use to access the internet come from China, so none of us are clearly above doing business with China either.

  5. I dislike how greedy the Chinese are. by BlueCoder · · Score: 2

    We have no problem with international business and immigration and yet they totally do. Maybe if your a really big company you can get a small foot in the door but sooner or later they spurn you for a local brand. If your a small guy it's impossible to start a business or immigrate except maybe on the down low operating through your wife. Good luck with the Chinese courts if your a foreigner.

    I don't know why we put up with them. All the money they have collected from national debts are no more guaranteed than any treaty. Why should we be honorable when they are not? I am for free trade when it works but not when it doesn't. There has to be some equitable exchange. Things can't be one sided like they are.

  6. Google maps is always blocked in China by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    maps.google.cn OR ditu.google.cn has never been blocked but *.google.com does. What you see in Google Maps IOS is from Google.cn but not Google.com. Google Maps did not return to China.

  7. Google maps did not return to China. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Google has clarified the situation, and apparently, Nikkei was misinformed. Google Maps has been available on the web in China for several years, and there's no iOS app. There are no changes to Google's services in China.

    http://www.androidpolice.com/2018/01/15/google-maps-returns-china-eight-year-absence/

  8. Recaptcha v2 by kila_m · · Score: 1

    I wish Google would get Recaptcha v2 working in China as well.

  9. Google disagrees by Malcolm+Chan · · Score: 2

    Oops... it seems there was no relaunch of Google Maps in China:

    https://www.reuters.com/articl...

    --

    /MC