Microsoft refuses to buckle to China pressure
By Stuart Turton
Posted on 26 Mar 2010 at 08:22
Microsoft will not leave China, despite Google co-founder Sergey Brin launching an outspoken attack on the company for ignoring the country's human rights issue.
Google has closed its Chinese search engine, and is redirecting visitors to its uncensored Hong Kong service - though the Chinese Government had already begun blocking access to certain pages.
Brin called on other large companies to follow Google's lead, but reserved his biggest criticism for Microsoft.
At Microsoft, we remain committed to advancing free expression through active engagement in over 100 countries, even as we comply with the laws in every country in which we operate
"I'm very disappointed for them in particular," he said. "As I understand, it [Microsoft] has effectively no market share – so they [Ballmer and Gates] essentially spoke against freedom of speech and human rights simply in order to contradict Google."
He further claimed that large companies should not put profit ahead of human rights in a clear dig at technology companies such as Microsoft, which have been quick to dismiss notions of abandoning the Chinese market.
"We appreciate that different companies may make different decisions based on their own experiences and views," said a Microsoft spokesperson when asked to respond to Brin's comments.
"At Microsoft, we remain committed to advancing free expression through active engagement in over 100 countries, even as we comply with the laws in every country in which we operate. We have done business in China for more than 20 years and we intend to continue our business there.
"We also regularly communicate with governments, including the Chinese, to advocate for free expression, transparency, and the rule of law. We will continue to do so," he concluded.
Cisco digs in
And Microsoft's not the only tech company staying put. Cisco supplies the Chinese Government with network equipment powering the country's Great Firewall of China - which filters political sensitive content on the internet.
Speaking at a technology summit in Saudi Arabia, Cisco's chief executive John Chambers described the fallout between Google and China as "natural give and take."
"I'm very much the optimist that the issues will be worked out regardless of differences," he told delegates, when asked how Cisco would respond.
"I have been doing business in China for 25 years, I have a lot of confidence in the Chinese leadership and I have a lot of confidence in the internet, and I have a lot of confidence in the American leadership.”
From around the web
The exception that confirms the rule
History is full of examples relating to businesses turning a blind eye on political or even violent practices of the powers in place. For one, these authoritarian regimes are even more of a blessing for the "optimal cost efficiency" seeking companies that see the opppression of the workers as an opportunity to exploit the situation. You will never see manufacturing companies pulling out of china, the labour is dirt cheap, enough so to equate it with slavery. Make thelm relocate to any country paying a decent wage to its workers and you can expect more than a doubling of the product's price. The rule of the game today is not human rights, it's cost cutting by whatever means (see malamine in chinese milk sccandal for example or hydrogenated fat in food mass production)Google is an exception to the rule today, and whatever the possible underlying reasons for this move, it still shines a light on the thousands of other businesses playing along.
By Olivier on 26 Mar 2010 
rubbish. Google went in there three years ago knowing what the situation was like. Why suddenly mention the system now?
By TimoGunt on 26 Mar 2010
@TimoGunt
1. Probationary period.
2. Attacked by China.
By mnj_lim on 26 Mar 2010
Live & Let Live
Every country has its own laws not all good. Repression exists everywhere in different forms, not just in China - name a country and you will see outrageous examples (Guantanamo ring a bell?). The harm associated with Hydrogenated fats has been known about in the west for a long time but action has only very recently been carried out.
Look at yourself before criticising anyone else.
By Manuel on 26 Mar 2010
Anything but human rights
What is the best excuse to blame enemy countries, or even destroy them by war? HUMAN RIGHTS? But the real reason is never about it.
When normal people think they know all the truth to hate a country, they actually know nothing but stories created by the media serving their purpose.
By Numen on 26 Mar 2010
@mnj_lim - I don't really understand your post.
1. Probationary period? Que?
2. Attacked by China? Again you're not being clear. Are you saying Google's hypocrisy is justified because they were attacked by China? If so then that makes them even worse - quite happy to participate in a regime they are now criticising others for doing, until they personally are threatened i.e couldn't give a stuff about the common person. Is that what you mean?
By Nodule on 26 Mar 2010
Google did the right thing
I personally feel google did the right thing pulling out of China. Their dictatorship hacked into google to get information on citizen's that opposed them and thought they could get away with it with google doing nothing about it. I bet even Microsoft would have responded if they had been hacked. That mey yet come though and we will see what their response will be. Mind you even the British government seems to be leaning towards web censorship these days with their proposed bill yet to go through. The world is a very corrupt place. Not one government on this planet is pure clean. China is one of the worst though.
By doomster71 on 27 Mar 2010
Google did the right thing
I personally feel google did the right thing pulling out of China. Their dictatorship hacked into google to get information on citizen's that opposed them and thought they could get away with it with google doing nothing about it. I bet even Microsoft would have responded if they had been hacked. That mey yet come though and we will see what their response will be. Mind you even the British government seems to be leaning towards web censorship these days with their proposed bill yet to go through. The world is a very corrupt place. Not one government on this planet is pure clean. China is one of the worst though.
By doomster71 on 27 Mar 2010
Google one tried to tolerate and then decided to do the right thing
We will see after a couple of years that what Microsoft and others just permit for the sake of being in business with china. At the end you will see greedy and opportunistic behavior of Microsoft to turn them. However, that is the difference between Microsoft and Google.
By HopeLESS on 28 Mar 2010
Hear hear
By doomster71 on 28 Mar 2010
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