January 14, 2010

A Heated Debate Among Top Executives at Google Over Withdrawing from China - WSJ.com

A Heated Debate Among Top Executives at Google Over Withdrawing from China - WSJ.com

Google is taking a principled stand that will continue to receive kudos from most of the world, at least those who value an open Internet without government censorship.

The WSJ believes that Google will likely be alone in this fight with China. Cheerleaders will abound, but it's unlikely many other companies will join the possible pullout.

Google is unlikely to win this battle with China and having taken their stance, should prepare to pull out of the soon-to-be-world's largest market for almost everything.

On the other hand, China's leaders cannot possibly believe they are able to control the Internet within their country forever.

What is most troubling about this episode is the growing ability of Chinese technologists to crack almost everything and what seems to be their increasing ability to wage cyber-warfare if desired.

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