4 ms·
Google probing possible inside help on attack
- hga 17y agoIndeed; I've long suspected that one of the things prompting Google's action and fury is that the PRC government suborned some of their in country staff (not very difficult given the PRC's absolute ruthlessness).
- bockris 17y agoOr they were planted from the beginning. Wouldn't be the first time.
- mahmud 17y agoIt's easier to make someone talk than to plant an agent; you would need to match the right person with the right position, at the right time. Too many moving parts. It's just easier to show up at the right person's door on the first day of their vacation and flip them.
- roc 17y agoOr, since you're the government, you can just mandate that every foreign company 'partner' with one of a handful of PRC-vetted local companies. Then all you have to do is rely on the ignorance and pride of the foreign company and maybe a few government edicts to ensure your ready-made plants have access to what they need to achieve your goals.
- joe_the_user 17y agoKeep in mind... You're talking about a country that began totalitarian, that was tracking and controlling people long before Google arrived. Under these circumstances, planting someone would seem to be a different matter - especially if you can plant or turn the right high level person, they can steer lower-level people as they chose.
- hga 17y agoNote that one reason Google, especially Brin, would be furious (and anguished, at least in the case of Brin), is the impossible position this puts Google's Chinese employees in (see other thread for more details).
- apower 17y agoThe beginning of Mcarthurism in Google, where you have to swear you are not a commie...
- hga 17y agoWouldn't "McCarthURism" be Google swearing that it would return to China ^_^? The CIA mnemonic MICE on the reasons people turn is useful here: Money Ideology Compromise Ego The PRC government doesn't require ideology (I suppose it would be nationalism more than anything else, especially for motivating the people) when they can use compromise, perhaps sweetened by a little money. Ego probably comes into play as well, when you're a "little guy" breaking into a world leader like Google.
- hga 17y agoI should also point out that one of the reasons for Google's (e.g. Brin's) fury is that by being in China, Google places its native and Chinese descent employees into an untenable position of divided loyalty, where no matter how well intentioned, employees will be forced to betray Google. Brin would know well how the USSR played that game; as long as the PRC is following this economic model Google will be evil if it's in China.
- deleted 17y ago[deleted]