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China's intolerable Net interference
A fierce battle of words has erupted between China and the United States over freedom of speech and the safety of information on the Internet.
Google Inc., a major U.S. search engine that had made inroads in China, has announced that it has stopped part of its "self-imposed" censorship of results on its Chinese search engine, as the Chinese government had required it to do.
In addition, Google said it intends to hold talks with the Chinese government in the coming weeks regarding the matter and could shut down its operations in China, depending on how the talks progress.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was quick to express "serious concerns and questions" about China's Internet regulations. Clinton has shown her intention to support Google in the spat.
Immediately after Google's announcement, it became possible to browse through photos of the Tiananmen Square Incident, a crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in 1989, and related materials after a continued ban on access to such data.
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Google draws the line
For years, the Chinese authorities have imposed restrictions on Net access to information and other data concerning figures and events they do not want to be made known to the public, including the Falun Gong group and the Dalai Lama, the supreme leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile.
Google started business in China four years ago. The Internet search corporation has since abided by what China called a self-imposed restraint on displaying search results, despite the move being, in effect, a ban placed by the Chinese authorities.
In December, however, Google came under a cyber-attack originating in China. Also, Gmail accounts of Chinese pro-democracy activists were hacked.
Damage caused by the cyber-attack in question is said to have affected more than 20 U.S. companies other than Google.
In commenting on the cyber-attack, a Google executive has said his company wants to trigger a worldwide debate over the freedom of speech.
Behind the U.S. government's backing of Google is the fact that China has previously stolen information on the United States' cutting-edge technology--including military technology.
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Lucrative market
Overseas companies are scrambling to enter China despite regulations on Internet searches because it is home to more than 300 million Web users--the largest number of Internet users in the world. Furthermore, such businesses are unable to ignore lucrative sales that come from online advertisements.
The Chinese government has objected to criticism concerning cyber-attacks reportedly launched from that country, insisting that it controls such practices in line with the law. At the same time, Beijing expressed its intention to continue self-imposed censorship, saying that China welcomes international Internet enterprises that "conduct business in China according to the law."
However, it has been pointed out that Chinese authorities may be involved in cyber-attacks originating in the country.
China should carefully listen to international calls for allowing greater freedom of speech and pursue ways to disclose more information. We believe this would be behavior appropriate for the country set to become the world's second-largest economy.
A fierce battle of words has erupted between China and the United States over freedom of speech and the safety of information on the Internet.
Google Inc., a major U.S. search engine that had made inroads in China, has announced that it has stopped part of its "self-imposed" censorship of results on its Chinese search engine, as the Chinese government had required it to do.
In addition, Google said it intends to hold talks with the Chinese government in the coming weeks regarding the matter and could shut down its operations in China, depending on how the talks progress.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was quick to express "serious concerns and questions" about China's Internet regulations. Clinton has shown her intention to support Google in the spat.
Immediately after Google's announcement, it became possible to browse through photos of the Tiananmen Square Incident, a crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in 1989, and related materials after a continued ban on access to such data.
===
Google draws the line
For years, the Chinese authorities have imposed restrictions on Net access to information and other data concerning figures and events they do not want to be made known to the public, including the Falun Gong group and the Dalai Lama, the supreme leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile.
Google started business in China four years ago. The Internet search corporation has since abided by what China called a self-imposed restraint on displaying search results, despite the move being, in effect, a ban placed by the Chinese authorities.
In December, however, Google came under a cyber-attack originating in China. Also, Gmail accounts of Chinese pro-democracy activists were hacked.
Damage caused by the cyber-attack in question is said to have affected more than 20 U.S. companies other than Google.
In commenting on the cyber-attack, a Google executive has said his company wants to trigger a worldwide debate over the freedom of speech.
Behind the U.S. government's backing of Google is the fact that China has previously stolen information on the United States' cutting-edge technology--including military technology.
===
Lucrative market
Overseas companies are scrambling to enter China despite regulations on Internet searches because it is home to more than 300 million Web users--the largest number of Internet users in the world. Furthermore, such businesses are unable to ignore lucrative sales that come from online advertisements.
The Chinese government has objected to criticism concerning cyber-attacks reportedly launched from that country, insisting that it controls such practices in line with the law. At the same time, Beijing expressed its intention to continue self-imposed censorship, saying that China welcomes international Internet enterprises that "conduct business in China according to the law."
However, it has been pointed out that Chinese authorities may be involved in cyber-attacks originating in the country.
China should carefully listen to international calls for allowing greater freedom of speech and pursue ways to disclose more information. We believe this would be behavior appropriate for the country set to become the world's second-largest economy.
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