Google forced by internal conflict to end censored Chinese search engine project

https://theintercept.com/2018/12/17/google-china-censored-search-engine-2/
https://archive.is/dSt4p

GOOGLE HAS BEEN forced to shut down a data analysis system it was using to develop a censored search engine for China after members of the company’s privacy team raised internal complaints that it had been kept secret from them, The Intercept has learned.

The internal rift over the system has had massive ramifications, effectively ending work on the censored search engine, known as Dragonfly, according to two sources familiar with the plans. The incident represents a major blow to top Google executives, including CEO Sundar Pichai, who have over the last two years made the China project one of their main priorities.

The dispute began in mid-August, when the The Intercept revealed that Google employees working on Dragonfly had been using a Beijing-based website to help develop blacklists for the censored search engine, which was designed to block out broad categories of information related to democracy, human rights, and peaceful protest, in accordance with strict rules on censorship in China that are enforced by the country’s authoritarian Communist Party government.

 

[Your Weird Fetish]

i love the way this thread took a small detours on "let's envisage nuking china" land

To be fair that's a reasonable option to consider in virtually every political conversation.

 

[FierceBrosnan]

To be fair that's a reasonable option to consider in virtually every political conversation.

Between the rampant human rights violations, animal rights violations, censorship, and soon super cockroaches. Vaporizing China from orbit seems like something that is always on the bargaining table.

EDIT: spelling

 

[Corbin Dallas Multipass]

If china ceased to be tomorrow the world would be a much better place. If the US ceased to be the world would be a very violent place, at least for a while.

 

[Your Weird Fetish]

Genghis Khan did nothing wrong.

 

[millais]

The Google execs have finally got around to publicly admitting the termination of Project Dragonfly at the recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. But tellingly, when pressed on the question by the senators, they have not explicitly ruled out working on future projects/tools with the Chinese government.

Google's Chinese search engine 'terminated'

The firm's plan to launch a censored search engine in China had faced much criticism.

www.bbc.com

 

[AnOminous]

The Google execs have finally got around to publicly admitting the termination of Project Dragonfly at the recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. But tellingly, when pressed on the question by the senators, they have not explicitly ruled out working on future projects/tools with the Chinese government.

Google's Chinese search engine 'terminated'

The firm's plan to launch a censored search engine in China had faced much criticism.

www.bbc.com

They should be executed for treason on the spot.

 

[Niggernerd]

I'm glad I was able to stop it just in time. I couldn't let what happen repeat itself, but now I have to return back to my own time. Stay safe kiwis
-John "niggernerd" Titor

 

[thismanlies]

The Google execs have finally got around to publicly admitting the termination of Project Dragonfly at the recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. But tellingly, when pressed on the question by the senators, they have not explicitly ruled out working on future projects/tools with the Chinese government.

Google's Chinese search engine 'terminated'

The firm's plan to launch a censored search engine in China had faced much criticism.

www.bbc.com

The Chinese have their own tech companies. They don't need shit like Google.

 

[CWCissey]

The Chinese have their own tech companies. They don't need shit like Google.

Where else are they going to stealinnovate from?

 

[Cedric_Eff]

So what? Google is tearing itself apart?

 

[thismanlies]

Where else are they going to stealinnovate from?

Anyone but Google would be a good start. Bonus points if it's not Facebook.

 

[NyQuilninja]

KFC’s 11 Secret Spices
To really nail the traditional flavor of Kentucky Fried Chicken, it’s all about their 11-spice seasoning blend. Combine KFC’s secret recipe for its breading with two cups of flour to thoroughly coat your chicken pieces after dipping in an egg and milk wash.

• 2/3 tablespoon salt
• 3 tablespoons white pepper
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1/2 tablespoon basil
• 1 tablespoon celery salt
• 1 tablespoon dried mustard
• 2 tablespoons garlic salt
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 1/3 tablespoon oregano
• 4 tablespoons paprika
• 1/2 tablespoon thyme
• And msg

You tellin' me you wouldn't love to have that blend of secret herbs and spices at your disposal?

 

[thx1138]

Anyone but Google would be a good start. Bonus points if it's not Facebook.

Why wouldn't China copy Facebook? It's a perfect data aggregation and surveillance tool, and most people willingly use it. "I'm in this place, at this time! Here's a picture of me! Here are my opinions on everything! Here's where my kids go to school! I'm single (or Married)! Here's what I like to eat, where I like to shop, what movies I prefer!" etc. It really is a perfect human traffic monitoring tool. Coupled with always-on surveillance devices (mobile phones, smart TVs, digital assistants), it's something the Chinese could learn a thing or two from.