Chirac’s internet search — for a French answer to Google

France’s crusade against Anglo-Saxon incursions into its culture has entered cyberspace. To the list of alien influences the French establishment is determined to resist — ranging from words such as ‘weekend’ and ‘cheeseburger’ to radio broadcasts of British pop songs and hostile cross-border takeover bids — have been added two American giants of the internet: Google and Apple.

This year President Chirac has announced two publicly funded initiatives to create French replicas of successful Google enterprises, while across the Seine in the Assemblée Nationale, French parliamentarians have passed a Bill potentially driving a stake through the heart of Apple’s iTunes music business. Regardless of whether Chirac and the French parliament have the power in practice to restrain these global businesses, their actions call into question both the wisdom and legitimacy of such intervention. Chirac should not be surprised if his actions — in this sphere as in so many others — are interpreted more as populist gestures than sensible policy.