Chinese Minister Hints At Consequences For Google

Search giant characterized as `unfriendly, irresponsible`

Despite weeks of talks that have supposedly taken place behind closed doors, the Chinese government still seems unwilling to compromise with respect to Google and censorship.  Indeed, it may be growing hostile, as a minister talked about `consequences` today.

The BBC reported that Minister of Industry and Information Technology Li Yizhong adopted a tough stance during a legislation session.  `I hope that Google will abide and respect the Chinese government’s laws and regulations,` he said.  `But, if you betray Chinese laws and regulations . . . it means that you are unfriendly, irresponsible, and you will have to pay the consequences.`
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TED 2010: Google Optimistic It Can Remain in China

By Kim Zetter February 12, 2010 | 3:34 pm | 

 TED Conference LONG BEACH, California —

Google appears to be content to remain in China doing business as usual while it finds a way to work within the system, according to one of the search giant’s founders. This despite a strong statement 30 days ago that it would stop censoring search results in China and possibly pull its business out of that country.

Google founder Sergey Brin discussed the recent hack attack against Google at the Technology, Entertainment and Design conference here Friday. He was invited to the stage by TED curator Chris Anderson to discuss the hack against dozens of companies that targeted intellectual property and Gmail accounts of human rights activists. Google stated at the time it announced the hack that it would seek to negotiate with the Chinese government to find a way to continue to operate there without censoring its search results.

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