Quote :

"A new approach to China Like many other well-known organizations, we face cyber attacks of varying degrees on a regular basis. In mid-December, we detected a highly sophisticated and targeted attack on our corporate infrastructure originating from China that resulted in the theft of intellectual property from Google. However, it soon became clear that what at first appeared to be solely a security incident--albeit a significant one--was something quite different. First, this attack was not just on Google. As part of our investigation we have discovered that at least twenty other large companies from a wide range of businesses--including the Internet, finance, technology, media and chemical sectors--have been similarly targeted. We are currently in the process of notifying those companies, and we are also working with the relevant U.S. authorities. Second, we have evidence to suggest that a primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists. Based on our investigation to date we believe their attack did not achieve that objective. Only two Gmail accounts appear to have been accessed, and that activity was limited to account information (such as the date the account was created) and subject line, rather than the content of emails themselves. [...] We launched Google.cn in January 2006 in the belief that the benefits of increased access to information for people in China and a more open Internet outweighed our discomfort in agreeing to censor some results. At the time we made clear that "we will carefully monitor conditions in China, including new laws and other restrictions on our services. If we determine that we are unable to achieve the objectives outlined we will not hesitate to reconsider our approach to China." These attacks and the surveillance they have uncovered--combined with the attempts over the past year to further limit free speech on the web--have led us to conclude that we should review the feasibility of our business operations in China. We have decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn, and so over the next few weeks we will be discussing with the Chinese government the basis on which we could operate an unfiltered search engine within the law, if at all. We recognize that this may well mean having to shut down Google.cn, and potentially our offices in China."

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-approach-to-china.html



This sort of thing is why Google deserves to kick most other corporations' asses. srsly.

I've always been a mutual fund sort of guy for my investments, but I'm seriously going to go buy some google stock tomorrow (it doesn't hurt that it dropped 2% yesterday )

[Edited on January 12, 2010 at 8:31 PM. Reason : ]

1/12/2010 8:29:41 PM

For once Boone I agree with you

1/12/2010 8:46:41 PM

You're going to invest in a company for threatening to cut off their own revenue stream?

1/12/2010 8:47:22 PM

Wow, I can't believe it... A liberal that still believes in human rights.

Quote :

"For once Boone I agree with you"

1/12/2010 9:19:07 PM

1/12/2010 9:51:11 PM

Quote :

"Wow, I can't believe it... A liberal that still believes in human rights."

wow you're pathetic

1/12/2010 9:59:50 PM

Quote :

"I'm seriously going to go buy some google stock tomorrow (it doesn't hurt that it dropped 2% yesterday"

go read the android thread in tech talk first before you do that.

1/12/2010 10:17:34 PM

Google becomes less evil -> Stock price falls.

Haha.

I'm torn on this though. This just means chinese citizens will be missing out on the best parts of the internet...and all the backdoor information sources that come with google.

1/12/2010 11:24:05 PM

^^^ Not really... Last I heard, liberals care more about faux global warming crises than real human rights abuses.

See: Obama administration's statements on China

1/12/2010 11:31:21 PM

If Google does withdraw from the Chinese market, I can see armies of Chinese patriotic hackers launching waves of assaults against them to take them down. If they can significantly disrupt as powerful a force as Google, it would make a good example to all other Internet companies not to threaten China.

1/12/2010 11:31:39 PM

It'd be a good reason to chop the lines and let them suffer in their own overpopulated filth.

1/12/2010 11:33:18 PM

hack the planet

1/13/2010 12:46:44 AM

Quote :

"e always been a mutual fund sort of guy for my investments, but I'm seriously going to go buy some google stock tomorrow"

Why?

1/13/2010 1:03:38 AM

Solidarity, perhaps?

1/13/2010 10:37:23 AM

way to fuck up the thread, solinari

1/13/2010 10:43:13 AM

Quote :

"If they can significantly disrupt as powerful a force as Google, it would make a good example to all other Internet companies not to threaten China"

And a wealth of data for security appliance companies.

1/13/2010 11:00:14 AM

How many shares did you buy? One? Two?

Google stock has hovered around $600 a SHARE for the past month. Thats a lot of money for a solidarity whim.

1/13/2010 11:11:57 AM

Google's owners are a bunch of hypocritical fucks, to hell with them. (not that owners of most big companies aren't).

1/13/2010 11:18:07 AM

^^ I was super-psyched last night, and was thinking 2.

Now I think definitely just one, and I'm going to check with the Mrs. first. So probably none. So much for solidarity.


I've always wished I'd bought one when they first went public.

[Edited on January 13, 2010 at 11:59 AM. Reason : ]

1/13/2010 11:59:06 AM

^i didn't think their stock was any more affordable back then?

[Edited on January 13, 2010 at 12:04 PM. Reason : e]

1/13/2010 12:03:58 PM

It's IPO was $85.

I distinctly remember thinking how much I would regret not buying it, but I was a poor college student at the time.

1/13/2010 12:08:26 PM

$85 at the IPO.

1/13/2010 12:09:56 PM

oh...for some reason i was thinking $200-300

1/13/2010 12:11:22 PM

Some amusing translations of Chinese bloggers reacting to the withdrawal of Google:

http://www.zonaeuropa.com/201001b.brief.htm

Quote :

"The Google announcement is largely related to the clash of concepts and management philosophy. For the longest time, Google did not think that they are media. Instead, they think of themselves only as a search engine whose results are derived by technology and for which they bore no administrative responsibility. Thus, even if there are personal attacks against leaders in the United States, Google will only offer an explanation and nothing else. When Google came to the China, they had no intent to adapt to the situation in the market there. They simply continued the same concepts. Therefore, when the media exposed them for purveying pornography and illegal content, Google could only respond hurriedly, including changing leaders. Even so, Google is still facing the pressure to take on more administrative responsibility. Google also failed to understand the recent issue of writers' copyrights. In their view, they think that they are not scanning entire books for readers to read. Instead, they only scan parts of a book which act like quotations that help readers to enquire and understand the book. To a certain extent, this should help the writers in getting greater exposure and understanding. They could not understand why it drew so much blowback in mainland China. For the Chinese people, we are more sophisticated in our thinking and we can appreciate what different segments of people think. But this is hard for Americans to deal with."

Quote :

"Google is not a child who can do anything that he wants; Google is not any individual's Google; Google is the capitalists' Google. Capital will do everything possible to maximize profit, even things that it does not like. This is the power of capital and the power of profits. You san see how the capitalists reacted after Google hinted that it might withdraw from China: "As a a result of the news, Google's share price dropped 1.3% in after hours trading to USD 583.05 from the Tuesday closing price of USD 590.48." If the capitalists disapprove of Google's withdrawal, it may not have a choice. From last year on, Google has been treading the red line of Chinese law. Therefore, Google has not been having an easy time. Should they withdraw from the China market as a result? That would be too naive. If they try to adapt to the China market, they could have a decent time. Will Google really act "impulsively"? Unlikely. It is easy to withdraw, but it will be hard to re-enter. Google is not a simple-minded boor or else they could not be successful to date. Microsoft never complained in spite of being sued all over Europe. Could Google be even more impatient than Microsoft? Ho ho, Google is just throwing a "hissy fit" now! Even if they withdraw in form, they will leave much behind in case they have to come back."

1/13/2010 12:29:38 PM

Fuck solidarity:

Quote :

"BIDU? - Baidu, Inc.(ADR) (NASDAQ) 438.19 +51.70? (13.38%?) Jan 13 1:05pm"

1/13/2010 1:07:45 PM