U.S. Leaders Discuss Google China Controversy

Top Story (in today's Daily Report)

Google users in China left flowers at the company’s Beijing headquarters after it said it may leave because of censorship restrictions.

Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) delivered the following remarks on the House floor following Google’s announcement that it is considering pulling out of China following a recent attack on the company’s e-mail service and corporate infrastructure:

"I rise today to voice my strong support of Google’s intention to consider pulling out of China due to a ‘highly sophisticated and targeted attack’ on its corporate infrastructure and email service. Google is making a principled stand reminiscent of the companies that pulled out of apartheid South Africa and fascist Germany.

"The Washington Post reported today that Google said it has evidence that ‘a primary goal of the attackers was accessing the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists.’ They found that the Gmail accounts of literally dozens of brave human rights advocates, ‘appear to have been routinely accessed by third parties.’

"This is unconscionable, but unsurprising given China’s long history of cracking down on free speech, human rights and religious freedom. China is regressing. They are increasingly brazen in their human rights abuses.

"This principled stand on the part of Google will surely give hope to the millions of Chinese people who yearn for freedom and cry out for basic human rights."

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) issued the following statement:

"In December, Google was attacked by an individual or group of individuals attempting to retrieve the e-mail accounts of Chinese human rights activists. Although Google has not explicitly accused China of initiating the attacks, the evidence strongly suggests that the Chinese Government was the perpetrator.

"This attack was a blatant, illicit attempt to access the private information of Google users who the government perceives to be a threat. If China turns out to be the perpetrator, it should be strongly condemned for its actions, which violate the internet's core principles of free speech and expression.

"At the same time, I applaud Google's decision to risk its lucrative Chinese contracts for the sake of these principles. In the past, Google and other internet providers have struggled to provide their Chinese users with a free and open forum in the face of government opposition. I sincerely hope Google's threat to sever its ties with China completely will compel not only the Chinese government but other regimes - like Vietnam - to finally expand free speech on the Web."

As reported by Stephen Kaufman, staff writer for America.gov:

The Obama administration is continuing its efforts to promote universal and uncensored access to the Internet around the world, viewing it as a critical element to modern economies and societies, the State Department’s Alec Ross said January 14.

Ross, who serves as senior adviser for innovation to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, told reporters in New York that Clinton has been “very engaged in helping to ensure that there is universal access to an uncensored Internet.” The secretary is scheduled to give a speech on the topic January 21.

Ross argued that access to 21st-century communication tools is a “net good” around the world. “The way in which information flows in the 21st century is increasingly over our global communications networks and our digital networks,” he said.

Ross’ remarks come after the U.S.-based Google Corporation said January 12 that it would stop adhering to Chinese government censorship rules and was considering pulling out of the Chinese market altogether. Google also cited a “highly sophisticated and targeted attack” by Chinese hackers, who primarily sought to break into the e-mail accounts of Chinese human rights activists.

“The ability to operate with confidence in cyberspace is critical to any modern economy and society,” Ross said. “The United States has frequently made clear to the Chinese our views on the importance of unrestricted Internet use as well as cybersecurity, and we look to the Chinese government for an explanation.”

In a January 12 statement, Secretary Clinton said Google’s allegations “raise very serious concerns and questions. We look to the Chinese government for an explanation. The ability to operate with confidence in cyberspace is critical in a modern society and economy. I will be giving an address next week on the centrality of internet freedom in the 21st century, and we will have further comment on this matter as the facts become clear.”

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi commended Google’s decision to end its Chinese-language censorship.

“Google is to be commended for taking action in response to cyber attacks originating from China targeting Chinese human rights advocates, and the intellectual property and corporate data of Google and more than 30 other companies. The announcement that Google will fully review its business operations in China and will no longer tolerate censorship of its search engine should serve as an example to businesses and governments.

“The Chinese government operates one of the most sophisticated operations in the world to control the Internet. It is essential that technology companies not assist in efforts that violate human rights or prohibit the free exchange of ideas,” she added.

In his December 10, 2009, remarks to the U.S.-China Internet Industry Forum, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs Robert Hormats said China has the world’s largest population of Internet users and can boast “an exceptional platform to support the researchers, engineers, product designers and business leaders of the future.”

Unrestricted access to information “is vital to the types of innovation that spark economic growth,” Hormats said.

“The Internet offers us an unparalleled ability to acquire knowledge if we allow unrestricted access to it,” he said. Echoing President Obama’s November 16, 2009, Shanghai town hall remarks, he added that “freely flowing information allows people to think for themselves and generate new ideas. It also encourages creativity.”

The Obama administration is aware that the Internet comes with potential downsides, such as its use to spread pornography and facilitate the ability of terrorist groups to organize. “We look forward to working with China and the private sector, both here and abroad, to mitigate these risks while maximizing the free flow of information,” Hormats said.

The United States believes that “certain core principles,” such as the freedom of expression as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, apply to everyone around the world. Along with speaking out for those principles, “we believe that commerce should be open and that information should generally be freely accessible,” the under secretary said.