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AudioGuy writes "A Guardian reporter, Rebecca MacKinnon, has some interesting insights on how Chinese censorship may be inadvertently leaking into Micosoft's Bing Search engine.
"After conducting my own research, running my own tests, and drawing upon nearly a decade of experience studying Chinese Internet censorship, I have concluded that what several activists and journalists have described as censorship on Bing is actually what one might call "second hand censorship". Basically, Microsoft failed to consider the consequences of blindly applying apolitical mathematical algorithms to politically manipulated and censored web content. The algorithm deployed by Bing may be mathematically sound, but it fails to protect online freedom of expression. Bing failed to take into account the political reality of Chinese government censorship and its broader impact on the shape of the Chinese Internet. Without adjustments to how simplified Chinese websites based outside of mainland China are "weighted," exiled and dissident online voices inevitably lose out. Put it another way: an apolitical mathematical formula automatically amplifies Chinese government censorship to all people searching for simplified Chinese content anywhere in the world, not just in China."
Apparently Google had the same problem, but has managed to write code to prevent these side effects."
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Nerdfest on Monday February 17 2014, @12:05PM
Didn't Google just leave China? Perhaps Microsoft should do the same. Making tweaks so that their censorship doesn't affect people outside of China is not really the right solution. At what point does it become like IBM's business during the second world war (Godwined in one?). I realize that there's money to be made, but perhaps a statement clarifying that you can't be bought would be better, especially after the nasty NSA business.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Vanderhoth on Monday February 17 2014, @12:08PM
I don't think Bing can afford to do that. China's a huge market and frankly Bing has next to no market share in North America and Europe. If they left China, IMHO, that would be it for them.
"Now we know", "And knowing is half the battle". -G.I. Joooooe
(Score: 1) by Nerdfest on Monday February 17 2014, @12:35PM
If Google or Yahoo decided to pull a "scroogled" on them and pointed out that they are supporting a fascist state, it could be bad for them as well. Of course, the way things are going in the west, perhaps I'm being a little optimistic in thinking that anyone would actually care.
(Score: 1) by Vanderhoth on Monday February 17 2014, @01:09PM
China has a pretty hefty chunk of the worlds population, almost five times the population of the US. Given most of the country is third world poor. It would still be a really bad business move to forsake them for North America and Europe. As you said with the way things are going, China's the next star.
Here's a pie chart [wikipedia.org], I like pie.
It'd be like a company telling the US to go screw itself so they can sell their products exclusively in Canada.
"Now we know", "And knowing is half the battle". -G.I. Joooooe
(Score: 1) by Nerdfest on Monday February 17 2014, @01:42PM
I think it's really like a US company moving to Canada so they no longer need to comply with NSA requests. Yes, their service may be blocked by the nation in question or it might be more difficult to market your service, but it's an option.
(Score: 1) by AudioGuy on Monday February 17 2014, @07:12PM
That pie chart held one surprise for me, which is that 'Other Asia' is nearly as large as China. This is a very good thing, should provide some balance as China grows.
(Score: 1) by Vanderhoth on Monday February 17 2014, @07:19PM
Yeah, it's pretty sick that the two of them together make up almost half the worlds population. I don't know why they aren't running the show already.
"Now we know", "And knowing is half the battle". -G.I. Joooooe