If you write, you stay

Google reported cyber attacks to its network, originating from China and reportedly targeting email-accounts of Chinese human rights activists, as David Drummond, Google's Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer writes:

"In mid-December, we detected a highly sophisticated and targeted attack on our corporate infrastructure originating from China that resulted in the theft of intellectual property from Google...

...we have evidence to suggest that a primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists... Only two Gmail accounts appear to have been accessed, and that activity was limited to account information (such as the date the account was created) and subject line, rather than the content of emails themselves."

Drummond concludes that Google will react by not un-censoring all results on Google.cn from now on, which might even lead to shuttering their service in Mainland.

An impressive reaction -- with only a minor flaw. Google never had a substantial footing in China; according to various sources its market penetration is around 30%, whereas Baidu -- China's largest search-engine has a share of over 90%. I am guessing that their revenue from Mainland is insubstantial. I don't want to sound cynical, but it's a convenient moment to push human rights if it doesn't cost you anything. Google might even utilize this opportunity to exit the Mainland market without loosing their face before they fall flat like Facebook.

Wer schreibt der bleibt

Googles Netzwerke wurde von China aus attackiert, wie David Drummond, Googles Corporate Development and Chief Legal Officer berichtet. Insbesondere wurden die Emailkonten von chinesischen Menschenrechtlern zum Ziel:

"In mid-December, we detected a highly sophisticated and targeted attack on our corporate infrastructure originating from China that resulted in the theft of intellectual property from Google...

...we have evidence to suggest that a primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists... Only two Gmail accounts appear to have been accessed, and that activity was limited to account information (such as the date the account was created) and subject line, rather than the content of emails themselves."

Drummond berichtet, daß Google als Reaktion die Zensorvorgaben für Google.cn von nun an nicht weiter befolgen wird -- was eventuell sogar zur Schließung der Google-Seite in China führen könnte.

Eine beeindruckende Reaktion, mit nur einem kleinen Schönheitsfehler: Google war nie ein größerer Erfolg in China beschieden. Die Marktdurchdringung von Google in China liegt -- laut verschiedenen Quellen -- bei etwa 30 Prozent, während der Anteil von Baidu, Chinas größter Suchmaschine, bei über 90% liegt. Ich vermute, daß Googles Geschäftseinnahmen in der Volksrepublik immateriell sind. Ohne zynisch erscheinen zu wollen, ist es ein bequemer Augenblick, für Menschenrechte einzutreten, wenn es einen nichts kostet. Google könnte diese Gelegenheit sogar beim Schopfe packen, um aus dem chinesischen Markt auszusteigen, bevor es sein Gesicht verliert und auf die Nase fällt -- wie bereits bei Facebook geschehen.

:) <- Lutz