[seanmcdirmid]

> That is a real risk for maybe few very high-level expat managers, but certainly not a risk for average programmer Ivan. Besides, as if Google cared about countries arresting local employees - they have multiple offices in China, from all countries!

Ah, I'm an expert on being expat working in China, and it really isn't much of a risk. China is dodgy, no real rule of law, just rule by law, but they aren't going to go after techies, there is no specific rule that they can go after employees, and the most you are going to get is tit-for-tat that honestly could affect any foreigner in China (e.g. tourists). But Russia made a law saying they could specifically go after employees, and that spooked Google out to moving everyone from St Petersberg to Zurich.