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So x0x0... Google China (which is a Chinese company) should hand over your data to the Chinese if they ask.. right? I bet the Russians would like to take a loo

So x0x0... Google China (which is a Chinese company) should hand over your data to the Chinese if they ask.. right? I bet the Russians would like to take a look too. And India, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, ... (Google has a company that operates in each of these, and many others) Why would you want to go down this road?

Eridrus 9y ago
Reality allows more complicated trade-offs than we'll let no-one look at any data/we'll let everyone look at as much data as they want. Law enforcement agencies are generally (though not always) interested in domestic matters, so there isn't usually any real conflict here; China primarily wants data on their own citizens; some people take issue with a US company being complicit in Chinese surveillance, but this should not bring US citizens interests being affected by Chinese requests. In practice, it's really not an all or nothing proposition, companies do decide how to respond on a case by case basis, sometimes even pulling out of countries, e.g. Google from China.
- yxhuvud 9y ago
  But sometimes there will be border cutting concerns. The case in OP is a clear example of this.
- bonesss 9y ago
  > Reality allows more complicated trade-offs than we'll let no-one look at any data/we'll let everyone look at as much data as they want. We're talking about legal precedent for a country to force a multinational to carry out acts in other countries because of their local laws... If Google can be compelled by the US to violate EU law, the EU can force Google to violate US law. Reality may allow for nuance and shades of grey, but the ability of a legal system to force compliance regardless of local law is a binary proposition. > ...companies do decide how to respond on a case by case basis, sometimes even pulling out of countries, e.g. Google from China. If a company is legally compelled to do something, it is legally compelled. From an investment point of view it is irrelevant that Google might cut some business in China if it were compelled to provide my trade secrets to the Chinese government. It is essential to risk management that my trade secrets never reside somewhere where that legal compulsion might arise with no recourse, due process, or knowledge of the transgression. This is not about companies who host, this is about citizens and companies who have things hosted.

Eridrus 9y ago

Reality allows more complicated trade-offs than we'll let no-one look at any data/we'll let everyone look at as much data as they want. Law enforcement agencies are generally (though not always) interested in domestic matters, so there isn't usually any real conflict here; China primarily wants data on their own citizens; some people take issue with a US company being complicit in Chinese surveillance, but this should not bring US citizens interests being affected by Chinese requests. In practice, it's really not an all or nothing proposition, companies do decide how to respond on a case by case basis, sometimes even pulling out of countries, e.g. Google from China.

yxhuvud 9y ago
But sometimes there will be border cutting concerns. The case in OP is a clear example of this.
bonesss 9y ago
> Reality allows more complicated trade-offs than we'll let no-one look at any data/we'll let everyone look at as much data as they want. We're talking about legal precedent for a country to force a multinational to carry out acts in other countries because of their local laws... If Google can be compelled by the US to violate EU law, the EU can force Google to violate US law. Reality may allow for nuance and shades of grey, but the ability of a legal system to force compliance regardless of local law is a binary proposition. > ...companies do decide how to respond on a case by case basis, sometimes even pulling out of countries, e.g. Google from China. If a company is legally compelled to do something, it is legally compelled. From an investment point of view it is irrelevant that Google might cut some business in China if it were compelled to provide my trade secrets to the Chinese government. It is essential to risk management that my trade secrets never reside somewhere where that legal compulsion might arise with no recourse, due process, or knowledge of the transgression. This is not about companies who host, this is about citizens and companies who have things hosted.