Google: Building a Bridge to the Middle Kingdom with an App
November 1, 2018
Years after Google told China the country had to change, Google is working overtime to build a bridge to the Middle Kingdom. Teamed with JD.com, Google hopes to knock off Amazon. (Anyone remember Froogle? Google may not.)
But the earthmoving equipment Google wants to drive into China is its vaunted search technology. From our vantage point in rural Kentucky, it seems as if Google will toss out comprehensive search results to win friends in China. Business Insider shares that, “Google Reportedly Wants To Launch Search Engine In China After Sundar Pichai Held Secret Government Meeting.”
Google is not the money winner Google wants. That has to change.
Google China used to be housed in Beijing, but the search engine packed its bags and headed to Hong Kong in 2010. It is revealed that CEO Sundar Pichai met with the Chinese government in December 2017 in hopes to re-enter mainland China. The Intercept leaked the report and shared that Google is willing to build a search engine, albeit a censored search engine to comply with strict Chinese censorship laws:
“According to the report, the project is codenamed “Dragonfly”, and engineers have created a custom Android app variously nicknamed “Maotai” and “Longfei.” The app was demonstrated to Chinese officials, and a final version could launch within the next six to nine months, but will hide terms about human rights, democracy, religion, and peaceful protest. It would also block sites like the BBC and Wikipedia. The Chinese government is yet to give final approval, The Intercept said.”
Google already provides many services to Chinese users, and the company seems to be moving forward.
Perhaps the past is the past? Well, maybe at Google. China is into its past, and it takes a long view.
The new approach will be a software wrapper (called an “app” to use today’s broster jargon). The app will work with an algorithm embedded in image, spell check, and suggested search, so Google cannot send people to otherwise censored material. Google would also work with a local service partner. We wonder if that partner is linked to Chinese authorities. Hey, that’s a negative question. Skip it.
Whitney Grace, November 1, 2018
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