According to Voice of America News, the United States government will be staying out of any negotiations between the People’s Republic of China and Google following the infamous hacking episode.
US Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman said in an interview today, “This is an issue that will play out for some time between Google and Google’s partners here in China and the Chinese government, and they will make whatever decisions Google feels is appropriate. That won’t be influenced by the United States government.”
He also took the opportunity to take a swipe at China, saying, “This is an issue that impinges upon probably one of the most important of all the issues that we stand for as a country and that is freedom of expression, freedom of speech and Internet freedom.”
Clearly, this issue is of some concern to the US government. The attacks on Google were just part of a larger attack on US-based systems, not entirely unlike the Titan Rain attacks of a few years back. Having said that, it is a good that the US didn’t try to inject itself into this situation.
If the US did anything beyond their normal criticism of China’s dismal free speech record, it would be perceived as the US overstepping its bounds and it could prompt further attacks, much like the removal of the Soviet statue in Estonia did. Besides, it’s Google’s issue, and it will likely do them some good to handle it on their own.
“Clearly this issue is of some concern to the US government”…”Besides, it’s Google’s issue”.
…well which is it? This article reads like you made some lame /b pix and wanted some content to put around it. The government totally cares and should be involved. They were attacked too. Plus if it were just Google, there are still Federal and International Laws that were broken here. I could go on, but since you contradict yourself, you already made my point for me.
And you work in IT?
@albert- Google was attacked, so technically it is their issue first. I agree that the US gov should be involved, even more I think that ALL gov’s should be involved.
“technically” google was attacked, as was adobe and the government. it is not technically their issue first. our government doesn't defer attacks to 1st come 1st serve. either way, still waiting for the author to respond.
Google and China are bringing up a 21st century battle of democracy and freedom verse Communism and restricted personal freedom. When we started using cloud computing systems we saw the HUGE area of security problems being created in cross country internet usage. Thrown in that the entire world is “outsourcing” computer stuff to Southeast Asian countries, and you have to plan for these socio-technology issues going forward. We study search demand/supply trends from around the world to find profitable niches and products. A niche, or hot predictions, is not just a demand side issue, but a supply/demand curve. If you predict IPHONE apps will take off, and there are already 100,000 aps, then you aren't going to hit that one. If you see that demand for cell phone radiation shields is going nuts and there are only two suppliers, then you can be pretty sure that it will be a good year for those 2 supplies. The software at http://www.TheInternetTimeMachine.com studies both the demand (search volume) and supply (think “results” in Google). The Google Phone is generating much more buzz right now then say the Apple Tablet.
Cheers,
Curt
Here is a video on what I mean.. http://bit.ly/SupplyDemandCurves
China has 440 million Internet users – more than the total 330 million U.S. population! As China strengthens and the U.S. weakens economically, they will slowly but surely end up ruling the Internet – here's hoping they do nothing draconian or terribly communist like interrupting freedom of speech, like the censors of many American sites do currently! I have tried to get some fairly free thinking ideas published at American sites – without profanities or lewid remarks, and have been censored in communist style none the less! Being a Canadian, truly free to speak my own mind in my own country I was greatly offended! Yankee Doodle – If you must live in a glass house – please! do not throw stones!