tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050177321399051504.post4316252049545892352..comments2015-01-20T04:31:19.876-05:00Comments on The Cuckoo's Egg: Google's New Approach to ChinaNed Moranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17232327294288429394noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4050177321399051504.post-88292155920740906782010-05-07T18:33:19.672-04:002010-05-07T18:33:19.672-04:00Google has impressed me a lot too with their handl...Google has impressed me a lot too with their handling of the China situation over the past couple of months. They have been more open and honest with their users than any other Internet company.<br /><br />I read their 2006 testimony before Congress the other day, in which their VP outlined exactly what their reasoning was in creating google.cn.<br />(http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/02/testimony-internet-in-china.html)<br />I thought it was pretty refreshing the extent to which they were willing to discuss how self censorship was at odds with their values, particularly their informal mantra "Don't Be Evil." I think it speaks to how much they as a company take their brand values seriously and hold themselves to account for them. <br /><br />I think their candidness, both in 2006 and this year when they decided to stop complying with Chinese censorship laws, surprised a lot of people. It's also brought to public attention the extent to which other companies like Microsoft and Yahoo have NOT done that. It's really put those companies to shame. Much of the coverage I've read of Google's decision to cut ties with China has compared Google to the other countries who continue to cooperate with the Chinese government. Some may have forgotten about the fact that Yahoo handed over a Chinese human rights activist to the Chinese government in 2005, but the media is certainly reminding them of it now. <br /><br />I feel like we have pretty low expectations of Internet companies, and the idea of corporate social responsibility seems kind of irrelevant these days. The assumption is that they're just looking out for their bottom line, and we can't expect more than that. I think Google's actions have made people feel like we actually can expect large companies to hold themselves to high standards in terms of their business practices.Katherine Schollenoreply@blogger.com