The Google China Cynics
Despite the fact Google’s decision to stop censoring www.google.cn in response to Chinese cyber attacks is right in my wheelhouse (<— this is where I link to my archive full of articles on China, which haven’t made the trip over to Tumblr yet), I’m not going to bite. Rather, just a quick note on the cynics, of which there are two types:
- Google won’t follow through (1) because the China market is too big to ignore.
- Google is using this as an excuse to get out because they’re getting their rear end kicked by Baidu.
My response to the first is that Google would be risking a huge amount of credibility by not following through, especially after the public relations beating they took in 2006 when they launched Google China. Moreover, publicly calling out the Chinese government is a recipe for disaster if you actually want to continue to do business there. As for the second, 35.6% share in 4Q 2009 (an increase from 31.3% 3Q 2009) is extremely respectable, and, I’m sure, profitable. Why leave now?
More broadly, though, these two criticisms are fundamentally at odds. If the first is true (Google wants to make money, and they’re performing decently, so they won’t leave), then the second is false (the proper response would be to redouble efforts, not abandon the investment). Similarly, if the second is true (Google can’t cut it in China), then the first must be false (the China market isn’t worth fighting for).
Or, it may just simply be the case that Google actually meant what they say, and that the whole “Don’t Be Evil” motto actually means something (2).
1) From what I can see, results are still censored. Here’s the link to a search on Google’s China site for “What Happened on June 6, 1989?” (天安门广场89年6月4日发生什么事).
2) It sounds corny, but Google employees totally buy in to that motto. It’s definitely not just cute lip service.
