Pro-Tibet groups slam Google over plans to develop censored search engine in China/ENG

2018. augusztus 23./Phayul.com/TibetPress

eredeti cikk

By Tenzin Dharpo

DHARAMSHALA, Aug. 23: Internet search engine giant Google’s business philosophy may take a U-turn with reports suggesting the company is testing a censored version of the site to be launched in China. In stark objection to the development, a coalition of 170 pro-Tibet groups has sent a letter to the company CEO demanding the plans in China be scrapped.

A report by The Intercept published on August 1 alleged that project code named “dragonfly” was under works since last year and that Google’s plan to launch a censored version in China is imminent with CEO Sundar Pichai and a top Chinese government official meeting to that effect.

The coalition wrote in their letter, “We are writing to express our strong concerns about reports that Google is currently developing a search engine app that will comply fully with China’s severe and repressive censorship methods,” the collation wrote.

“There is little doubt that ‘Dragonfly’ would have an immense negative impact on the human rights of Chinese citizens, Tibetans, Uyghurs and other nationalities who, like all global citizens, deserve an undivided Internet and free access to information,” the letter further stated.

Numerous Tibet Support Groups (TSG) from around different continents, activist group Students for a Free Tibet, Friends of Tibet chapters, Save Tibet Foundation and International Tibet Network and others have called on the tech company to abandon its plans in China and draft a clear policy stating that Google will not assist states in their censorship.

In 2010, Google withdrew from the Chinese market citing censorship norms imposed by the Chinese government in its operations there. The withdrawal was seen at par with the company’s philosophy to operate ethically and not be profit-leaning to the detriment of overthrowing basic virtues. Internet rights activists fear now that Google may change to tap into the vast Chinese market that they once left.