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by panarky 1773 days ago
Don't forget how Google admitted their mistake and withdrew from the Chinese market.

Even though Google could have made a ton more money by helping China to build the tools of repression.

Don't forget that other large US corporations like Microsoft, Apple and Activision do build censorship tools and participate in repressing dissent.

2 comments

My recollection was that Google was outgunned by Baidu and similar Chinese tools, who were being actively supported by the CCP, while Google was half-tolerate. At the same time, it was losing security, IP, and reputation. There was a nice PR play around it, but I don't think "Google could have made a ton more money by helping China to build the tools of repression." It's better to build those in-house.
> Don't forget how Google admitted their mistake and withdrew from the Chinese market.

Which I point to the decision they came inadvertently. It was their intention to play games with the regime which backfired on them, not vice versa.