January 19th, 2010
“Where Were You During The War?”
I predict that our grandchildren will ask us where we were when Google went to war with China.
In history, there are a few examples (I think) of companies that had what might have felt like militaristic fights – wars. The East India Tea Company sent explorers to secure trade routes. The company essentially fought wars to secure and maintain trade routes and land. However, maybe the “company” was more like an extension of the British Crown and less like a modern American company.
My point here is really a question. Is Google at war with China? Is this the first modern company to be in a state of war with a true nation-state?
If China really “cyber attacked” Google, and if Google is really going to pull out of China (end diplomatic relations). That sounds like the beginning of a war.
Google is a really important entity in the world. It is the leading navigator of digital information in the world. With its new products, it could become a major market sponsor and market player outside of information. Google is registering as an energy brokerage.
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Google Inc. has applied with the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for permission to buy and sell power in bulk, in a move that could help the Internet giant better meet its daunting electricity needs.
Is there anyone who thinks it would be out of the question that Google could compete with the major stock exchanges one day? If Google were to cut off a country’s web sites from its search results – wouldn’t that at least temporarily, be a crushing blow to commerce in that country?
When Google stands up to China, we may be seeing what may be the most important company of the new century reorienting its relationship to the concept of the nation-state. In a battle of most important company versus what will potentially be the most important country – who wins? If Google is at war with China, but is in alliance with India, which country is more likely to prosper? Maybe it doesn’t matter, maybe this whole post is over thought and over dramatized. Personally however, I am convinced that this is a milestone in organizational history.
I am going to remember what I need to tell my grandchildren what it was like just before Google became a soveriegn.
The NY Times and IBM have collaborated to create a web site that allows you to play with visualization tools. You can use data that includes words and, or, numbers. It is pretty cool and I found it to be stimulating.
