Google Agrees to Censor Results in China

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: Hafen

"To obtain the Chinese license, Google agreed to omit Web content that the country's government finds objectionable. Google will base its censorship decisons on guidance provided by Chinese government officials."

The only correction to this would be for the gov't to impose restrictions on search terms and results the search engines are allowed to return, which is the only inevitable result the COPA can have.

So I ask, how is this much different? Are we so quick to slam the Chinese when Bush is heading towards something similar? What if it were to limit search results based on supposed terror threats, ie you can't search bomb making or any other possible term the gov't decides it is in the best interest of the people for them not to have?

Because the Bush administration is asking to violate the privacy of Americans using the American version of Google, in violation of American law.

America and China are different countries with different laws.

If you want to make beer in Germany you have to follow the purity laws, if you make it in America you can add in whatever you want to "improve" the beer. Different countries, different laws.

In England, network television can show b00bies, while in America that will get you a huge FCC fine and congressional mock outrage. Different countries, different laws.

 

[NMDJuggler]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons

Originally posted by: NMDJuggler
The Chinese government is right to fear the internet, and that?s why Google missed a huge opportunity here to help the plight of the Chinese people.

But Google did not have the choice to run an uncensored search in China.

The choice they had was to be blocked, shut down and possibly booted from the country, or to obey Chinese law like Microsoft was already doing.

I agree that free access to information is a good thing, and that it will over time change the Chinese government, but the change needs to come from within not from an American company.

I agree with your point and that is a sticking point. The choice, in my mind, was to refuse the Chinese government and then, yes, loose its marketshare in China (although I wasn't under the impression it currently had much...it was often completely blocked when I was there...the Chinese usually use their own homegrown search engines from my experience.) In so doing, the company would be sticking by its principles and the principles of the internet. Like I said before, I'm not sure I truly expected this; that's a lot to ask of a for-profit company. But I am dissappointed. My hope now is that Yahoo, Google and MSN meet together and agree to fight together in China for increased openness. At least Google has expressed reluctance at their choice, so maybe that can still be an agent for change. Time will tell.

 

[0roo0roo]

one could claim its just cultural protection against imperialism. canada and france would agree, they lead the charge and passed their little anti american global convention for the protection of cultural diversity bs at unesco after all. china should thank them for protecting their cultural freedom.

 

[Stunt]

With time, the Chinese government will give consessions...just like all opressive regimes of the past. I'd rather have Google work with them, and have a foot in the door than the Chinese blocking the content on their own.

It's for the greater good people...

Would you rather an American company representing capitalism and freedom in China or the communists developing their own ways?

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
one could claim its just cultural protection against imperialism. canada and france would agree, they lead the charge and passed their little anti american global convention for the protection of cultural diversity bs at unesco after all. china should thank them for protecting their cultural freedom.

I'm sure the farmers who get thier land stolen by local officials on a daily basis - and of course making those local party officials multimillionaires for the theft and subsuquent sale to XYZ corp- Feel China is just "protecting thier cultural freedom" too. Or how about millions of tibetians slaughtered and thousands of political and religious torturees feel it all about protecting thier cultural freedom.

There's right and wrong. It's wrong to perpetuate such a system by continued trade and caving to them.

 

[conjur]

I couldn't access the BBC website (and a few <ahem> adult-type sites) when I was over there. Although, I didn't try going thru the Google cache or archive.org. Would have been interesting to see what happened.

 

[Future Shock]

Originally posted by: Zebo
We should boycott china totally. The idea that trade and giving them notes to our property will make them free and democratic is a compete joke played on the american people. Worse is the only way we'll be able to "compete" with them is to become more like them becasue they sure as heck anit gonna change. Party line over there gets you power, land and loans to control your districts people and land and make product.

It's happening in the US already. Notice the progressivly increasing police state - manifested in private property seizure the supremes ruled ok - warrantless wiretapes and indefinite arrests w/o trail or even charges in some cases. Notice workers rights are taking a back seat.. unions ridiculed. etc etc etc.. its just a matter of time before your wife/mother.daughter is slaving away 80 hrs a week for $120 a month. We must in order to compete with such a system which basically salves thier people to benefit the party elite.

...QFT!

 

[dawheat]

I do dislike how Google is implementing this- restricted searches end up bringing up sites with little more than government propoganda, while at least Yahoo! brings up a straight error page.

Try falun gong for example.

<edit> I do also think a lot of the hubbub is because of the way a lot of people pedastal Google. At least everyone knows MSN and Y! are corporations, and the truth is that Goog is the same and will likely have more of these decisions in the future - and to give up lucrative markets will be heroic, but impossible.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: dawheat
I do dislike how Google is implementing this- restricted searches end up bringing up sites with little more than government propoganda, while at least Yahoo! brings up a straight error page.

Try falun gong for example.

<edit> I do also think a lot of the hubbub is because of the way a lot of people pedastal Google. At least everyone knows MSN and Y! are corporations, and the truth is that Goog is the same and will likely have more of these decisions in the future - and to give up lucrative markets will be heroic, but impossible.

I don't blame google for any of this. Because if they don't capitualate one of thier competitors will thus hurting thier bottom line and achiving nothing in the end since some search companies will be in china. Decisions like not capitulating to China's gag must come from the national policy level. We say though our government reps, no US company can serve China and vise vera until conditions XYZ are meet. Wanna see how fast they have freedom of speech? Do it at the international level where rich countries in europe close them down too and it would take less than a year I bet.

 

[dahunan]

Originally posted by: conjur
I couldn't access the BBC website (and a few <ahem> adult-type sites) when I was over there. Although, I didn't try going thru the Google cache or archive.org. Would have been interesting to see what happened.

No it wouldn't have been.. I enjoy having you around here ;-)

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally posted by: asadasif
Article

How is this good for the people in China?

More knowledge ----> More power.

When we're done selling our nation's assets to China, and after China has become the next America and America has become the next India (severely overpopulated and impoverished), will China try to censor our access to the Internet?

 

[sdifox]

I really don't see what the big deal is, it's not like the Chinese governement is the only one practicing sensorship. While I would like to see a freer China, it is not up to me to change that, it is the People in PRC that have to do that. Look at middle east, they spend the most on censorship.

 

[RideFree]

Originally posted by: ModerateRepZero
no it doesn't....just recall Tiannamen Square, 1989. Student protesters were demanding political equality, and Deng Xiaoping called in the tanks to disperse the protesters.

Tiannamen Square - before and after.

 

[RichardE]

It is there laws, in order to be able to do business in a country, you follow that countries law. There is no way around this, and shouldn't even be worth discussing. Politics take care of poilitics, businesses do business.

 

[Jave]

Limited google in China is better than no google at all.
I visited China in December to attend a research conference, and was shocked to see the progress thay have made. They are headed in the right direction but at a pace slower than I like. Drastic changes usually result in drastic consequences.