is Google now in Big Brothers pocket?

As many of you may know, Google has decided to approve the censorship of the Internet in China.

(www.atsnn.com...)

What ever happened to the Google mantra of "Don't be evil"?
By choosing to deny free speech and democracy Google has in effect added legitimacy to the Chinese governments ability to control and limit the freedoms of its population. Free speech, and the ability to criticize the government, is critical to the Democratic way of life and to a free society. When Google assists big brother in stuffing a gag in your mouth and preventing you from learning about the world around you, they are doing a great disservice to the advances in Human Rights around the globe. This seemingly simple matter may very well have deep and sinister repercussions.
One great example on how this is directly harmful to the general population in China can be found in the information available in the recent severe Benzene spill in China. On Google.com there is plenty of information available as this was a major news story world wide. On Google.cn nothing can be found other than a whitewash of the entire subject. No mention of severe health risks, local government corruption, cover up, and general incompetence, nor any suggestions on what to do to protect yourself and family from the effects of the chemical spill.

"Contrary to earlier utopian theories of the Internet, it takes very little effort for governments to cause certain information simply to vanish for a huge number of people." -Seth Finkelstein, www.sethf.com

Is Big brother watching over us with kindness and a nurturing heart, or is global commerce bending over for profits and market share?

Do you think Google is right to bend to the will of Chinas policy of censorship, or should they help export freedom across the globe?

[edit on 12-2-2006 by Terapin]

DUDE!!!!!!!!! FREESPEECH IS ONLY A LAW IN AMERICA!!!!!! NOT IN OTHER COUNTRIES!!



Chinese are communist freaks any way. So they can just blow themselves up with their missiles, because their government is horrible.

Originally posted by Conspiracy Theorist06

Chinese are communist freaks any way. So they can just blow themselves up with their missiles, because their government is horrible.

Anyone wonder WHY they are Communist?It's because they're government sucked originally. Same with Russia and most other Communist countries. Problem was they had leaders like Stalin,Mao etc.
BTW I agree that Google is acting like Big Brother.The irony is Google would not give the American government info on what people searched while it happily condones Chinese censoring for profit...

There's always a limit to freedom of speech and we all know it. For example, would a parent accept a man talking sexually about their child? There's no way you can stop him/her, freedom of speech after all. Very strong example but I believe freedom of speech will never work.

I reside in Britain, and regularily we have hordes of muslim protestors, standing in London streets, saying how they hate the country, it's people, and how they would wish all infidels were blown up. There's nothing we can do about it, they are just talking, protected by freedom of speech.

I believe the problem we have is a balance. And who creates the balance. Say what you like.

*****erfvoemto*****

Danny

This may sound really stupid, but...what/who is "Big Brother"?

Looks like Google is just annother word for Greed these days.

Google have repeatedly stated there reaon for going into China.

Originally posted by Ferrozone
BTW I agree that Google is acting like Big Brother.The irony is Google would not give the American government info on what people searched while it happily condones Chinese censoring for profit...

This is the misconception that means people say Google have sold out. In the America case the problem is that a country protecting freedom of speech is requesting private information. Now put yourself in Googles shoes for a second, before judging them. Google has a commitment to the American people to uphold there beliefs, and Google thought the American people would want to have their information kept away from the government.

Now China... censoring for profit? If Google had not agreed to China's policy and had kept out would you have been happy? By telling the Chinese population that information is being withheld, rather than there being no information at all, then we are making a small step forwad. To get anywhere you must take the first step. We should support the company for attempting to tackle issue on such a large issue in such a mature way. Rather than sell out and attempt to make profit by giving in, it seems they have a long term plan beyond the scope of most.

Originally posted by danny_parkinson
I reside in Britain, and regularily we have hordes of muslim protestors, standing in London streets, saying how they hate the country, it's people, and how they would wish all infidels were blown up. There's nothing we can do about it, they are just talking, protected by freedom of speech.

I wouldn't say hordes and I wouldn't think of saying regularly. But you are right, you probably heard the story of two counter-protesters with posters of THAT cartoon being arrested whilst people rallying against the cartoon were seen to be holding placards inciting racial violence.

If Google had not agreed to China's policy and had kept out would you have been happy? By telling the Chinese population that information is being withheld, rather than there being no information at all, then we are making a small step forwad. To get anywhere you must take the first step

Grreatt point!~ People tend to always desire "that" which they cannot have and thus the Chinese will know more truth exists "out there"
and they can dig for it.

Like internet 2 - The globalists know that the only way to force people onto their internet 2, is to out-afford them (think AOL and email)

But even this will backfire because people are naturally going to wonder why internet 2 is SO much cheaper than internet 1.

BlueTyphoid- Big Brother is generally any omnipresent force representing oppressive control over individual lives through tactics like Surveillance and censorship exerted by an authoritarian power.


Any morals google claimed to had went out the window when they saw the Cash working in China would give them. Its all about profits and China is a huge growing market.

If you want to play in China you have to play be their rules. In the case of Google China google is indeed in Big brothers pocket

Do China care if Google isn't operating in their country?

No.

It is better to be in the country before it is a fully fledged world power. Once this takes place they'll habe less respect for what Google has to say. By raising awareness to the fact they are being decieved the population can decide whether it wants to a world power with limited access to knowledge.

I am certain Google would have been lambasted either way.

Very few people in china even have the internet anyway

also it's strange how everyone bashes communism
everyone looks at the worst examples
maybe its because their the only ones
couldn't there be communism without the loss of individuality
without a dictatorship