As a Google fanboy follower, I found this very interesting.
Google was hit by a series of targetted attacks[1] using PDF-exploits[2] in China, targetting the Google accounts of Chinese human rights activists. The intrusion was apparently “Very Sophisticated” but still only managed to infiltrate a small part of the system. Google recommend that you use strong passwords, use anti-virus/firewall blah blah blah: the usual stuff.
They are “Review[ing] the feasibility of our [Google's] business operations in China” – which may mean withdrawing their Google.cn China-based operations, which was met with controversy over it’s self-censoring when it was released [3]. They did, however, insist that their operations were in the interest of maximised access to information, as pulling out or being forced out may limit it further. Google originally said[4] that they decided to:
(1) Launch Google.cn.
We have recently launched Google.cn, a version of Google’s search engine that we will filter in response to Chinese laws and regulations on illegal content. This website will supplement, and not replace, the existing, unfiltered Chinese-language interface on Google.com. That website will remain open and unfiltered for Chinese-speaking users worldwide.
(2) Disclosure of Filtering
Google.cn presents to users a clear notification whenever links have been removed from our search results in response to local laws and regulations in China. We view this a step toward greater transparency that no other company has done before.
(3) Limit Services
Google.cn today includes basic Google search services, together with a local business information and map service. Other products – such as Gmail and Blogger, our blog service – that involve personal and confidential information will be introduced only when we are comfortable that we can provide them in a way that protects the privacy and security of users’ information.
It will be interesting to see what the next move is, from both the Chinese government and from Google. Juggling their ethical (“Don’t be evil!”) and business motivations and needs won’t be easy, and they may end up withdrawing completely, leaving their 30% market share to the leading Chinese search Engine, Baidu (which has a 60% market share). The chinese local laws can’t be easy to deal with…
That’s it for today, tune in later, folks!