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China: Twitter survey on a Google departure

Categories: East Asia, China, Economics & Business, Freedom of Speech, Technology

Someone estimated [1] this week that despite being blocked, Twitter still has between 26,000 and 30,000 active users in mainland China.

When Google announced its presence in China was being deeply reconsidered, blogger Dupola [2] began conducting a survey [3] on Twitter on people's views regarding the possible departure of Google from mainland China. The survey is still underway, but Dupola has just released a summary [4] of the results received as of January 15:

注:除“你的身份是?”以外,其他均为多选题,所以比例可能看起来有点奇怪。格式为:选项 — 票数 — 图表。

Note: Aside from “You identify as…?”, all other questions are multiple choice, which might explain why the ratio looks a little off. The format for results is: responses – tallies – chart.

你的身份是?
中国人在中国 — 420 — 93%
中国人在外国 — 3 — 1%
其他 — 30 — 6%

You identify as:
Chinese in China – 420 – 93%
Chinese overseas – 3 – 1%
Other – 30 – 6%

googlequitchina_repot_1 [4]

如 Google 退出中国,你的态度是?
抱歉,这项没统计分析。

If Google withdraws from China, your attitude will be:
Apologies, results to this question have yet to be compiled.

你认为 Google 此举是?
坚守自己“不作恶”的底线 — 384
商业策略失败,败走中国 — 44
一定是炒作 — 9
看不懂唉 — 67

You see this move by Google as:
Upholding its commitment of “don't be evil” – 384
Failure of its commercial strategy, leaving China defeated – 44
Promotional gimmick – 9
No idea – 67

googlequitchina_repot_3 [4]

如 Google 退出中国,你将会…?
用百度等国货 — 24
用Bing/Yahoo等外国货 — 73
翻墙 Google — 397
呼吁中国政府放宽审查,呼吁Google重返中国 — 206

If Google withdraws from China, you will…
Use Baidu and other domestic services – 24
Use Bing/Yahoo and other foreign services – 73
Circumvent censorship and use Google.com – 397
Call on the Chinese government to relax censorship and call for Google to return to China – 206

googlequitchina_repot_4 [4]

对此,你认为中国政府是否应该负责?
很明显,应当负全责 — 373
不好说,可能 Google 不够强大或者沟通出问题了 — 82
当然不,中国政府无须负责 — 5

In your view, should the Chinese government take responsibility for this?
Obviously it should take full responsibility – 373
Hard to say, Google might not have been forceful enough or able to communicate well – 82
Of course not, the Chinese government has no responsibility for this – 5

googlequitchina_repot_5 [4]

你认为此事会对其他在华外企构成什么影响?
无影响,照旧 — 144
坚守自己的商业道德底线 — 123
重新审视自己的道德操守并努力执行 — 211
干脆退出中国 — 73

What impact do you feel this will have on other foreign enterprises operating in China?
None whatsoever, things will continue as they were – 144
They will uphold their bottom line business ethics – 123
They will review their moral integrity and make efforts to enforce it – 211
They will simply withdraw from China – 73

googlequitchina_repot_6 [4]

你认为此事会对中国企业有何影响?
无意识,照旧 — 219
无影响,照旧,外加鄙视Google总部 — 106
重新审视自己的道德操守并努力执行 — 83
有意识有努力,苟延残喘 — 140

What impact do you feel this will have on Chinese enterprises?
Lack of awareness, things will continue as they were – 219
No impact, things will continue as they were, in addition they will despise Google headquarters – 106
They will review their moral integrity and make efforts to enforce it – 83
They are aware and making similar efforts, struggling to survive – 140

googlequitchina_repot_7 [4]

Dupola goes on to point out that while Twitter users only comprise a fragment of China's online population and this survey only reflects a portion of those, it is better than the alternative of nothing.

The ongoing survey can be found at http://u.dupola.net/19 [5]
The latest results can be accessed at http://dupola.net/post/337 [6]
The statistical summary can also be downloaded in XLS [7] or PDF [8] format.

Regarding the survey, Twitter user @xdp1999 comments [9]:

这个统计结果提示在互联网上人们趋向于与自己观点相近的群体。

These results show that Internet users as a group tend to stick with others who share similar viewpoints.

For more views on Google, see Key's post at ChinaHush [10], ‘Chinese netizens say goodbye to Google with Google doodles’
confuciusgoogle011 [10]
“How happy we are. To have friends come from afar!”- Confucius