Google vs. China's Great Firewall: Ethical Implications Analysis

This report examines the ethical implications of Google's decision to launch Google.cn in China, which involved censoring content to comply with government regulations. The paper explores the conflict between Google's commitment to free speech and the Chinese government's control over the internet, often referred to as the "Great Firewall." It delves into the arguments surrounding freedom of speech, national sovereignty, and the responsibilities of private companies operating in restrictive environments. The analysis considers the impact of Google.cn on Chinese internet users, the evolution of internet access, and the economic benefits for both Google and China. Furthermore, the report includes questions and answers that cover key aspects of the case and the implications of Google’s actions, including its role in shaping public opinion and its contribution to China's economic and technological growth. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of understanding the changes brought about by the internet in China before making judgments about Google's actions, and the role of the company in the context of the country's evolving political and technological landscape.

Ethical implications for free speech
and sovereignty
Google vs. China’s “Great
Firewall”

About the paper
• The aim of this paper is to identify the ethical
implication that arises with free speech and
sovereignty.
• There is a need to investigate the ethical nature
and implications that are associated with launch
of Google.cn.
• The main issue that can be seen with the launch
is the use of censors material that is offending the
Chinese government.

About the paper
• However the Google.cn was launched for the
purpose of helping Chinese officials to filter their
internet and to abridge the freedom of speech.
• The Chinese government found it offending. In
response to this Google defends itself by stating
that the results for Google search will be modified.
• The paper has stated that in order to enter the
Chinese market companies such as Yahoo!, Cisco
and Microsoft, they have blocked the online
contents.

Overview
• Google.cn was launched in the early 2006.
• At the time of the launch the foremost
consideration was to provide freedom of speech
towards their users.
• However Google lacked at some points.
• At the early stage Google failed to integrate two
key features in the Unites states that are e-mail
messaging and the potential to design blogs for
the purpose of coping up with the China’s
government.

Overview
• As discussed in the article the main concern was
to identify whether the blame made was true or
not.
• After analyzing it can be stated that the Google’s
case is fundamentally linked with the issue of
freedom speech. Secondly it is associated with the
question of China’s sovereignty.
• The main question arises here is whether the
meaning of freedom of speech is different China
as compared to other countries.

Overview
• In the paper author stated that the act pursued by
Google is not illegal as Google is a private company
and they are allowed to perform activities that can
provide maximum profit.
• The article is designed mainly for the purpose of
outlining the activities and blames that are put
forth by the Chinese governments.
• The paper has divided the case analysis into three
sub sections that are freedom of speech and
sovereignty, the impact on China with launch of
Google.cn and identifying the responsibilities of
private companies.

Ethical duty of a private company
Overview
• Another fact that is needed to be considered while
analyzing the fact is that at the time of Google.cn
launch, Google showed tremendous efforts for the
purpose of avoiding infringing on the human
rights.
• Thus after analyzing the political and historical
backgrounds of both the conflicting parties it can
be stated that it is very illogical to state that
Google is an unethical firm for abridge the
freedom of speech in China.

Impact of Google.cn on China
• According to the senior policy counsel of Google
“providing limited access towards the contents is
far better than getting no access”. This statement
was made in response to the people who were
blaming Google for abridgment of the freedom of
speech in China.
• In this article the author stated that with the
launch of Google.cn it will become easy to provide
Chinese people with the chance for accessing new
information source.

Impact of Google.cn on China
• While analyzing the statistics it can be clearly
seen that the use of internet has increased over
the years.

Impact of Google.cn on China
• Google has expanded the technology and has
increased the customer base is that the number of
internet users in China has increased by more
than double in 2009.
• In order to contribute towards the improvement of
free flow it becomes essential to contribute
towards the development process effectively.
Hence it can be stated here that Google has
successfully added profit towards the China’s
access towards the internet resources.

Ethical duty of a private company
• In the recent few years it has been observed that
China has become one of the most rapidly
growing countries and hence it has become one of
the attractive markets for foreign investors and
companies.
• The main reason that can be identified from the
given article is that Google is criticized mainly as
it is having a better market value.
• Hence it can be stated that the evolution of the
Google have positively helped the performance of
China market.

Conclusion
• The article has critically demonstrated the
proliferation that is associated with the new
information technologies.
• The rapid diffusion of mobile phones has enabled
the Chinese people to get closer towards the
democracy.
• In addition to this the proliferation of Internet has
contributed towards the improvement of free flow
of information and freedom of expression.

Conclusion
• Thus before commenting anything on Google it
becomes essential to look the changes that are
brought in with the use of internet in China. Hence
it can be concluded that before making any blame
it is important to analyze the negative impacts as
Google is one of the largest companies.

Questions on the
discussed topic:
• One major reason Google has been criticized seems that it is one
of the richest companies as well as the most famous company in
the area of the Internet search engine industry. State true or
false.
• (A) true (right answer)
• (B) false
• Chinese authorities have failed to find an effective way to control
the Internet in spite of their great efforts to protect the Chinese
people from undesirable content. State true or false.
(A)True (right answer)
(B)False
• Does China should collaborate with Google or not?
(a) Yes (right answer)
(b)No

Questions on the
discussed topic:
• Google is a private company, and thus it has to pursue profit
maximization to survive in its fierce competition with other
companies. State true or false.
(A)True (right answer)
(B)False
• Does the internet users have grown rapidly over the years?
(A)Yes (right answer)
(B)No
• According to Google it is better to provide limited access
rather than having no access. Is it true or false according to
your opinion.
(A)true (right answer)
(B)False

Questions on the discussed
topic:
• Does the proliferation of new information technologies has heavily
influenced the Chinese’s daily life?
(A)Yes (right answer)
(B)No
• Does the diffusion of new technologies has evolved the economy
of China?
(A)Yes (right answer)
(B)No
• Does Google violated the “Freedom of speech?”
(A)Yes
(B)No (right answer)
• Is the act of China is correct if viewed from Sovereignty term?
(A)Yes (right answer)
(B)No

Reference
• Kim, S.W. and Douai, A., 2012. Google vs. China’s
“Great Firewall”: Ethical implications for free
speech and sovereignty. Technology in Society,
34(2), pp.174-181.