Internet censorship

[scaeagles]

Not at all - I actually applaud Google for standing up to the government if they don't think it is the correct course of action. THis is why we have courts. I have stated that I understand their reasoning, though I don't consider it to be a threat.

I suspect the worst from Google not because of that, but because they are participating in active censorship with a Communist and oppressive government. This is by their own admission, and clearly against their own motto of "don't be evil".

My argument was hyperbole. You are most certainly correct that China probably has the info already.

I simply find it amazing that, in the name of freeedom and privacy (both exceptionally worthy things to pursue) Google has said they will not give the info to the US government. OK. However, the same thing isn't a high priority in dealing with the Chinese.

[Alex]

Except that they are different things. Or, put another way, they are the same thing. In both cases Google is withholding information.

Every company that is doing business with China is in some way complicit with the government's oppression. The governments of the world are complicit in China's oppression by treating them as equals and clamoring for access.

The argument has long been that engagement is better than embargo as it will slowly crack open the corridors of power and bring the country around. If it is better to have manufacturing in there (and complying with Chinese laws) than not then I don't see why it isn't similarly better to have information technology in there than not (and also complying with Chinese laws).

I have no problem with a company saying "we'd rather miss out on the market than conform to Beijing's requirements" (and like to think I'd be willing to do so) but I don't see why Google would be held to a higher standard, unless we think that all the other companies doing business there are "doing evil" and therefore Google is violating it's anti-evil position.

Just because they've made a policy decision I disagree with, I don't think that automatically renders it evil.