Google reviewing China business, ready to exit
March 12, 2010
Source: PTI

WASHINGTON: Leading search engine Google said on Thursday that the company was prepared to leave China, the world’s biggest online market and would not compromise on the censorship of its web search engine. A top Google official told US lawmakers that the company was firm on its stand that it will not allow censorship of its contents in China.

“We are currently reviewing our business operations in China as we no longer feel comfortable censoring our search results in that country,” Nicole Wong, vice-president of Google, said in his testimony before a Congressional committee. Wong’s remarks of his company being prepared to leave China came as it said that it was in talks with Beijing on the future of its internet services.

In his significant testimony, the Google official told the lawmakers that the Gmail accounts of dozens of activists, who advocate human rights in China, have been accessed by the third party, originating from within that country.

He said, in mid-December the company had detected a highly sophisticated and targeted attack on its corporate infrastructure, originating from China, with a primary but unsuccessful goal to access Gmail accounts. “However, it soon became clear that what at first appeared to be solely a security incident was something quite different. Other companies from a range of businesses — finance, technology, media and chemical — were similarly targeted,” he said.

Wong said the company in its investigations had discovered that the accounts of dozens of Gmail users around the world, who advocate for human rights in China, appeared to have been accessed by third parties. This, he said, happened independent of the attack on Google, through phishing or malware placed on those users’ computers. “These circumstances, as well as attempts over the past year to limit free speech online, led us to conclude that we no longer feel comfortable censoring our search results in China. We are currently reviewing our business operations there,” Wong said.

Google threatened to leave China in January over what it said were cyber attacks at its source code and Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists. Google said the US government should promote internet openness as a major plank of US foreign policy. Free flow of information is an important part of diplomacy, foreign assistance and engagement on human rights, Wong told the Congressional committee. He also cautioned that internet censorship should be part of US trade agenda because it has serious economic implications.

“It tilts the playing field towards domestic companies and reduces consumer choice. It affects not only US and global internet companies, but also hurts businesses in every sector,” Wong said.

'Gmail account of human rights activists accessed by others'
March 12, 2010
Source: PTI

WASHINGTON: Leading search engine Google on Thursday said that the company was prepared to leave China, world's biggest online market and would not compromise on the censorship of its web search engine.

A top Google official today told US lawmakers that the company was firm on its stand that it will not allow censorship of its contents in China.

"We are currently reviewing our business operations in China as we no longer feel comfortable censoring our search results in that country," Nicole Wong, Vice President of Google said in his testimony before a Congressional committee.

Wong's remarks of his company being prepared to leave China came as it said that it was in talks with Beijing on the future its internet services.

In his significant testimony, the Google official told the lawmakers that the Gmail accounts of dozens of activists who advocate human rights in China have been accessed by the third party, originating from within that country.

He said, in mid-December the company had detected a highly sophisticated and targeted attack on its corporate infrastructure, originating from China, with a primary but unsuccessful goal to access Gmail accounts.

"However, it soon became clear that what at first appeared to be solely a security incident was something quite different. Other companies from a range of businesses -- finance, technology, media and chemical -- were similarly targeted," he said.

Wong said the company in its investigations had discovered that the accounts of dozens of Gmail users around the world who advocate for human rights in China appeared to have been accessed by third parties.

This, he said, happened independent of the attack on Google, through phishing or malware placed on those users' computers.

"These circumstances, as well as attempts over the past year to limit free speech online, led us to conclude that we no longer feel comfortable censoring our search results in China. We are currently reviewing our business operations there," Wong said.

Google threatened to leave China in January over what it said were cyber attacks at its source code and Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists.

Google said the US government should promote Internet openness as a major plank for US foreign policy. The free flow of information is an important part of diplomacy, foreign assistance, and engagement on human rights, Wong told the Congressional committee.

He also cautioned that Internet censorship should be part of US trade agenda because it has serious economic implications.

"It tilts the playing field towards domestic companies and reduces consumer choice. It affects not only US and global Internet companies, but also hurts businesses in every sector that use the Internet to reach customers," Wong said.

He also advocated that governments around the world should be transparent about demands to censor or request information about users or when a network comes under attack.

"This is a critical part of the democratic process, allowing citizens to hold their governments accountable," the Google official said.

Aditya Birla Minacs acquires UK’s Compass BPO
March 12, 2010
SOURCE: ET Bureau

BANGALORE: Aditya Birla Minacs, a leading BPO services player in India and part of the Aditya Birla Group, has acquired the UK-based firm Compass BPO for an undisclosed sum.

Compass BPO provides services in the area of finance and accounting (FAO) with presence in the UK, the US, UAE and India. It employs around 600 people.

Aditya Birla Minacs CEO Deepak Patel said that the acquisition would give them a firm foothold in the FAO segment and would help them get into newer sectors like foods & beverages and US government business.

Compass BPO is a 11-year-old company and has been profitable, according to Mr Patel. The founders of Compass — David McCullough and Mark Atkins — will join Minacs’ management.

This acquisition would bring in the solution portfolio to the stable of Aditya Birla Minacs as it looks to provide platform-based services. For the BPO player, the FAO services would be largely delivered out of its centres in Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai.

Mr Patel said that this would be one of the many acquisitions Aditya Birla Minacs is planning to do. For the future, it is looking at areas such as high-end insurance, healthcare and non-voice services.

Aditya Birla Minacs has already set a target of $1 billion in revenue for the next three years through both organic and inorganic routes. Aditya Birla Minacs has around 13,000 people, with centres across India, North America, Europe and Philippines.