Google and the RealPolitiks of Morality

Google's decision to (essentially - its not over till the fat lady sings) pull out of China was, we believe, based mainly on RealEkonomik considerations rather than purely moral (as an aside, the various opinions on this really separated out the media sheep* from the clear eyed goats) but this has every possibility of sparking off, butterfly wing flapping like, some interesting RealPolitiks. Consider these fault lines:

- Google has not been the only western brand playing the Chinese Game (kowtow to obtain access to the cash) but is the only one to exit quoting a moral stance. And this will echo. Millions, nay billions of dreamy OECD citizens (read: wealthy and impressionable consumers) are now up for grabs for the unprincipled to attempt to tempt their principles - and cash - away from companies still in China.

- This episode makes clear the amount of Cyberwar going on in China, but that is just the tip of a global iceberg - and anyone who believes that (i) those companies active in China weren't aware of it going in and (ii) their own governments aren't aware either are - well, as naive as some of the journalists that feed them their daily pap. But, this action means tat some of the murky waters around that iceberg will start to clarify.

- China (and Iran) clearly have learned that co-ordinated, assertive National "Corporate PR" is a useful tool - other countries have surely noticed

- Around boardrooms globally there must be the soft popping sound sound of expletives bouncing off the walls as it becomes clear that ethics and morality (If Google can do this, why can't.....) are intruding further into corporate decision making.

- China was not the only country where Google censorship is going on - France, Italy and even the UK (if the Digital Economy bill goes through as is) have their censoring fingers in the Googlepie. (And did someone say Patriot Act....) Will we see similar principled pullouts from these countries by Google (very unlikely) or greater citizen pressure to remove censorship (a bit more likely) - but whatever way, people are now aware of this issue like never before.

We are living in Interesting Times, as the Chinese say.

Morality and RealPolitik have never been comfortable together, but this action of Google's could be a major spark to global RealPolitik - because of the very RealEkonomiks involved. It will also highlight (for a while, anyway) the uncomfortable Chinese reality that you can get rampant economic growth while being neither democratic or a free society. "Animal Farm" was written in 1945 as a parody of Stalinism in the 30's when it was worshipped by many in the West - who has the bottle to write the Chinese version while its all happening?

Speaking personally, while I doubt the decision to exit was mainly moral, kudos anyway to Google for doing the right thing. (It very interesting to see that Brin, and to a lesser extent Page, are being cast as Google's moral compass right now vs Schmidt and the Korporat Apparatchiks). As I've tried to note above, it potentially sets a spark under a number of other unpleasant trends for people to become aware f - and take action on)

*Re: Media Sheep - As far as moral wishy-washiness goes, my favourite was this from The Grauniad yesterday:

As someone who agreed with Google's reasoning when it entered China, I also support this move. If it cannot operate here in accordance with its global standards, it should leave.

...and no doubt said organ will agree with Whatever Google Does Next