Google's partnerschip with Chineese government

[zOOmeR]

Google users worldwide are outraged by Google's decision to join hands with the Chinese Government in its propaganda efforts. Google has launched a web search platform custom-built to the Chinese authorities' specifications that blocks access to information about Tibet, human rights, and other sensitive topics.

Please, join a protest cmpaign on http://noluv4google.com

[Willow of Oz]

This google user certainly isn't outraged.
I think this was covered elsewhere on the forums.

Go google.

[Todd The Kiwi]

i think in principle it's wrong.
but it doesn't affect me (as far as i can tell)

i suppose you could say i'm nonplussed... :ermm:

[rorythedog]

I signed up. It's not difficult. It's about freedom of information.

[Neo]

I think it's disgusting. Taking a "it doesn't affect me" attitude is a bit poor on your part. :disappoin

[Todd The Kiwi]

that's your opinion, you are 'entitled' to it after all.
as am i...

[Qaz]

I don't think this is the right thing to do, but blaming it on google is a bit silly. No luv 4 China day would be more suitable, I think.

[Willow of Oz]

Gee, I must have missed something.
Read over various articles and press releases but still not seeing anything wrong.
Feel free to elaborate on why this is a Bad Thing.

[Willow of Oz]

For those unaware of what has been going on - users in China have difficulties at times reaching google.com, and access is slow as there were no servers within China. To have servers in China, Google must of course abide by Chinese laws, which involves filtering results (only for the google.cn site). They've already done this sort of thing for other governments (and hey, why do US government imposed filters affect me using the google.com.au site?)

btw, here's a quote or two:

Google's move was prompted by frequent disruptions of the Chinese-language version of its search engine registered under the company's dot-com address in the United States.

McLaughlin said search results would be removed based on local laws, regulations or policies.
"While removing search results is inconsistent with Google's mission, providing no information (or a heavily degraded user experience that amounts to no information) is more inconsistent with our mission," he said.
There was no indication that Google would disable access to its .com site within China.

[Qaz]

Feel free to elaborate on why this is a Bad Thing.
Censorship generally is.

[Willow of Oz]

Censorship generally is.

That's the tersest elaboration I can recall seeing in a long time :biggrin:

[Solon]

Argh, stupid retarded hippies. So what if people in China get filtered results on certain issues, if they're "sensitive", why are they looking them up in the first place? It's not like the majority of people are going to search google for human rights, it will more likely be porn or something. I hate journalists that blow things out of proportion too. It's so stupid, they could either have google with the restrictions, or not have google at all. Let me think which is best...hmmmmm

[jkrzok]

So what if people in China get filtered results on certain issues

All liberty rests on the free trade of information. Without access to information freedom of speech means nothing. If you don't know about an injustice the right to speak out against it is absolutely meaningless.

If you don't know that your neighbor was arrested you won't know to ask the government why they did so. If you don't know the evidence against your neighbor you will not know if the government acted in good faith for a just and moral cause.

If you don't know that the Chinese government is doing its best to quietly exterminate any Tibetan hopes for freedom and national identity you will just sit idly by, even if you find such actions to be morally reprehensible.

If you don't know that Red Army factories are run on the backs of slave labour culled from the ranks of political prisoners you will have no moral qualms about saving 50 cents when buying a product produced by these innocent victims of dictatorship.

By filtering out information that the Chinese government views as objectionable Google is in fact complicit in these crimes. If nothing else, Google's management is showing us where their true values lie. They are saying that acting in accord with a brutal dictatorship out weighs any moral questions such actions may raise, if the price is right.

[acushla]

By filtering out information that the Chinese government views as objectionable Google is in fact complicit in these crimes. If nothing else, Google's management is showing us where their true values lie. They are saying that acting in accord with a brutal dictatorship out weighs any moral questions such actions may raise, if the price is right.
As one has come to expect, you state your position both elegantly and concisely...and although I am not the person to counter with an equally elegant and concise counter view, I have no doubt that somewhere out there is a person who would be able to state an alternate view..

Leonard Cohen perhaps? 'First we take Manhattan...then we take Berlin...'

GOOGLE's choice in this was to seize the opportunity now or let it pass to another...Admittedly GOOGLE is first and foremost a business...a venture with grand vision that took the opportunity where it presented itself, rather than let it pass to a rival. Keep in mind...this is China we are talking about. It only remains to be seen as to what influence GOOGLE will be able to exert as time goes by.

To suggest that GOOGLE, by working with the Chinese government is complicit with those crimes seems to be a overly simplistic one dimensional view of world politics. Using this same criteria it would stand to reason that any country doing business with China is, by default, complicit in those same crimes. Which is to suggest that the social worker or parole officer working with their respective convicts somehow share a responsibility in whatever crimes those individuals committed.

I know all the nuances are different but in the end this is what I believe. We do not achieve meaningful change by isolating ourselves from regimes who not play by the same rules we do. No...by stepping in with our eyes open and 'being a friend' we trust that as the relationship grows and strengthens that perhaps some of the things we value will begin to be incorporated in meaningful ways with our partner, resulting in real growth and change. Something that would not have happened had we not agreed to work with them.

[Rex_Mundi_Incarnit]

I suppose i can not use google on frebruary 14th. Other than that, i dont think it's going to change anything. If that's the way China wants it, so be it. I'm tired of the western world pushing its moral standards into places where it doesnt belong. If the Chinese population doesnt like it, then they'll just have to do something themselves or find loop holes so that they will still get the info they want. Im sure they can do that. Just think, if this is bad, then what is North Korea in comparison? The people there are being brainwashed to hate America and the western world. This is not the case in China.

[Willow of Oz]

If the Chinese population doesnt like it, then they'll just have to do something themselves or find loop holes so that they will still get the info they want. Im sure they can do that.

Yes. They can go to Google.com rather than google.cn
If google.com is unmanageably slow or inaccessible, then that's the same situation they were in before. Google is adding options for chinese people and helping supply them with more information than they had previously, not less.

[Protocol]

Google are steadily taking over the world. It won't be long now and they will be big enough for everyone to start bashing them. :rolleyes: