Google is in a business similar to China’s: social observation. One compiles and exploits user data to facilitate the commerce that builds its own advertising and research revenues; the other may use the same data to identify and channel Internet end users in service to the regime’s planning, revenue development, and security.

Inspiration

Lee, Dave. “Ex-Google employee warns of ‘disturbing’ China plans.” BBC, September 26, 2018.

–33–