Crouching Google, Hidden Porn

Friday, June 19th, 2009 by Andy Beal

Crouching Google, Hidden Porn

How’s a modern search engine supposed to grow market share if it can’t rely on serving up internet pornography? </sarcasm>

Well, Google’s going to have to take on China’s leading search engine Baidu, without the help of those that use the search engine to locate naked flesh. According to AP, China’s main watchdog, the China Internet Illegal Information Reporting Center, is unhappy that Google is not adequately conforming to its pornography ban.

The watchdog said that despite official warnings, Google was still failing to “filter pornographic contents from its search engine results according to China’s relevant laws and regulations.” It said tests found that the search engine provided links to a large number of lewd and vulgar pictures, videos and articles, though it gave no specific examples.

Google gives its typical “we’re working on it” response. “We have been continually working to deal with pornographic content, and material that is harmful to children, on the Web in China,” a statement from the company said.

I’m pretty sure that Google’s level of effort is linked to the amount of growth it sees in its market share in China. In other words, all the while Google plays second fiddle to Baidu, I wouldn’t expect it to go “all out” to do much of anything in China.

(photo credit)

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6 comments on “Crouching Google, Hidden Porn”

Crouching Google, Hidden Porn | SpeedContact Says:

June 19th, 2009 at 10:18 am

[...] Read more from the original source: Crouching Google, Hidden Porn [...]
Frank Reed Says:

June 19th, 2009 at 10:26 am

Great title. How was the story (just kidding!)? I see your point though. While China is the most ginormous market on the planet, the rest of the planet is still Google’s for now. They can make plenty of money elsewhere.

Frank Reed’s last blog post..Google Street View Changes Policy in Germany
Tony Says:

June 19th, 2009 at 12:56 pm

I often find myself wondering what it would be like were China not so technologically suppressive. This, along with China’s mandate for an internet filter (video: http://www.newsy.com/videos/chinese_filter_a_no_go) makes them quite the internet bully. A far cry from this country’s freedom-loving internet culture!
mark@free xbox 360 Says:

June 19th, 2009 at 1:51 pm

Great title for this post! Google will never be able to block porn from China.

mark@free xbox 360’s last blog post..Free XBox 360! Get A Free XBox 360 Elite/Premium Now!
Penton Says:

June 22nd, 2009 at 6:10 am

Blocking porn is good for China citizen. As too many of them are over exposed to this sort of unhealthy materials, in which, increase the crime rate (sex violent related).

However, if Google blocked porn search results, perhaps it’s against the principles of “freedom”, right?

Penton’s last blog post..Bruce Lee Playing Ping Pong with his famous Nunchuck
Google Follows China Porn Removal Request - Web 2.0 Promotions Says:

June 23rd, 2009 at 9:08 pm

[...] As reported last week, China told Google that they didn’t want their pornography. Google filters for pornography on their Chinese site weren’t living up to the standard of the China’s main watchdog, the China Internet Illegal Information Reporting Center, so they were asked to make improvements. In one of the few (maybe the only?) places where Google does not dominate the search landscape it was wondered if they would move quickly to meet the demands or just continue to “work on it.” [...]

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