The free flow of information in china is other issues creating problems. Google only has a small share of the Chinese internet search market at 15.4% which is dominated by a Chinese domestic company Baidu which controls 78.6% of it, according to a domestic research company Analysis International. Words would seem timed to throw Google’s considerable heft behind those who are pushing for free flows of information in China
Behind a powerful firewall that censors searches, curbs expression and cuts off access to parts of the web. Just this week, brave journalists and their supporters at two Chinese newspapers have been protesting publicly over official censorship of their publications. They would surely welcome such international support for the free flow of ideas. Though Google removed its servers from China, users on the mainland have been able to conduct searches through its Hong Kong website. Unlike Baidu and other local search firms, Google does not employ an army to self-censor its search results, something a minority of Chinese web users seem to appreciate.
Qihoo is determined to take on Baidu, which has consolidated its grip on China’s search market after Google’s departure (it is estimated to command a share of greater than 70%). A tie-up with Google would help Qihoo to improve searches and to better match eyeballs with relevant advertising. Google could benefit from the tie-up as the benevolent rich uncle, using the local firm as a proxy for its commercial aims. By keeping Baidu from becoming an utter monopoly, goes this argument, Qihoo helps keep the China market open for Google’s eventual re-entry when and if the censorship regime changes.
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