France does not like the fact that Google competes in the free market, and, as a result, has come to dominate over three-quarters of all internet searches performed by the French. Reports the Economist:
Googlephobia is spreading. Mr Jeanneney has talked of the “risk of crushing domination by America in defining the view that future generations have of the world.” “I have nothing in particular against Google,” he told L'Express, a magazine. “I simply note that this commercial company is the expression of the American system, in which the law of the market is king.” Advertising muscle and consumer demand should not triumph over good taste and cultural sophistication.
The flaws in the French plan are obvious. If popularity cannot arbitrate, what will? Mr Jeanneney [head of France's national library, la Bibliotheque Nationale] wants a “committee of experts”. He appears to be serious, though the supply of French-speaking experts, or experts speaking any language for that matter, would seem to be insufficient. And if advertising is not to pay, will the taxpayer? The plan mirrors another of Mr Chirac's pet projects: a CNN à la française. Over a year ago, stung by the power of English-speaking television news channels in the Iraq war, Mr Chirac promised to set up a French rival by the end of 2004. The project is bogged down by infighting.
"The flaws in the French plan are obvious." A better construction: the flaws in the French are obvious. An aversion to free markets, and the growing globalization of the world's economies, compounded with the spread of mass communications platforms such as the internet means that in all instances authority devolves from the government to the individual. I bet a beret and a croque monsieur that the average French internet user cares little that he searches the internet using an American company's technology.
If the Saudis use Google, why would the French care if it's American or not?
Another odd Google search, which yields this post. I'm confused.
