Two Countries Squabble — China and Google
June 26, 2009
In Google Version 2.0 (2007) I spelled out an argument that has been ignored. Now my analysis of Google’s options in China are playing out in real life. I asserted that Google had become a new type of company. In effect, it is operating as a supra national enterprise, which is tough to understand (particularly by regulators) and even tougher to define in terms of existing laws, guidelines and regulations. Few stop to consider that Google is not “anywhere”. To make a conceptual idea more clear, Google could plop floating barges outside a three mile limit and leave it up to its lawyers to explain where a particular computer function took place. You can follow the rest of my analysis if you snag a copy of Google Version 2.0.
Now a series of news stories highlights the squabble between China and a single commercial enterprise. The BBC’s story “Google Access Disrupted in China” makes it clear that Google is being given the digital equivalent of a shot across its bow. In addition to a service disruption, others are reporting that Google is distributing objectionable information.
Now Google has to figure out how to respond to the type of challenge that strikes me as like those issued at the outset of the 100 Years War. Google is not being handled like a mere company. Google is getting the equivalent of nation state treatment by China.
What is at stake? For starters, control of information. Another issue is the shaping of that information. In theory information is neutral. The reality is that information has mass, can be a catalyst, and behaves in weird uranium like ways. Will Google find a diplomatic solution to this problem, or will the company find itself engaged in a long cyberwar. Quite interesting to the addled goose I must say. The Google Microsoft battle pales in comparison with this first real test of a supra national digital entity against a modernizing nation state. How will Google respond? What steps will China take to make Google even more aware of the consequences of its actions within political boundaries? Will China attack Google in interesting ways? How will cultural factions line up? Exciting and new in my opinion.
Stephen Arnold, June 26, 2009
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