 "Photo: Google")
For many college kids, Google is a lifesaving resource that puts at our fingertips any information on any subject we choose, and allows for free e-mail access to everyone. However recently Google has experienced some international issues regarding censorship and the Chinese government.
In mid-December Google China claimed that Chinese government officials searching for the e-mail addresses of Chinese Human Rights activists targeted almost 20 members of their e-mail holders in a cyber attack. In response to the attack, Google is stating that they will either no longer uphold their agreement to censor their search engine in China, as well as shut down their offices in the country.
According to Google's Chief Legal officer, David Drummond, "A primary goal of the attackers was accessing the G-mail accounts of Chinese Human Rights activists."
Some of the attackers were able to access information of account holders, but according to Google, only information such as the date of the account's creation were discovered.
Much debate about whether or not Google's decision to possibly leave China is financially related, rather than related to the attack. Many believe Google no longer wanted to comply with censorship laws China forced them to adhere to, and the company needed a way out.
Regardless of the reasons why, the over $1 billion the search engine in China is worth, it may no longer be and the battle between internet moguls over privacy and censorship continues.
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