The New York Times > Technology > France Detects a Cultural Threat in Google

Ahh, the French mind! They seem to have a persecution/dominance complex that frequently surfaces when 'progress' threatens their worldview. Google is very gracious, but is also telling them the facts of 'search life.' The bias in Google search is for what people want, click on, and link to most frequently, not a nationalistic bias. That more people speak English than French suggests to me that Anglo-Saxon 'dominance' already exists.

Why doesn't France produce Googles, eBays, Yahoo!s, etc. Must be a cultural thing , or is it the 35 hour work week?

Maintain the boycott!


"Still, it is no coincidence that concern about Google Print is being expressed first in France. It has often tried to persuade the rest of Europe to close ranks against what it calls Anglo-Saxon culture. And with digitized books, Mr. Jeanneney argued, 'European ranking should reflect a European vision of history and culture.'
But which Europe? That of the French, German and Spanish languages? That of the 25 members of the European Union? More crucially, will European governments or the public have the power to define the books and criteria used in response to search requests?
Even with questions unanswered, however, President Chirac now seems bent on promoting a European parallel to Google Print. And if the rest of Europe does not echo his call, France may well go it alone. After all, no one cares more about French culture than France. And thanks to Google, it seems, Mr. Jeanneney has spawned a new national cause."