Google China protests
p2p news / p2pnet: Bill Gates may think it’s OK for Google to help Communist China out with Net censorship, but millions of people around the world disagree with him. Vehemently.
If you’re one of them, email Google bosses Larry Page and Sergey Brin, ceo Eric Schmidt, and PR people David Krane, Debbie Frost and Elliot Schrage.
ActionNetwork has made it easy with an auto-email function on its China/Tibet protest site. Here’s its suggestion, but you can edit it on the site.
I am outraged at Google’s hypocritical decision to join hands with the Chinese government in its propaganda efforts. Google’s decision to custom-build its search platform to Chinese authorities’ specifications is more than just censorship.
It’s active participation in the Chinese government’s efforts to repress and undermine Tibetans, democracy advocates, people of faith, and anyone working for freedom and human rights.
By censoring search results on critical topics such as “Tibet,” you are promoting Beijing’s wildly distorted version of history and truth. This is indefensible.
Under China’s totalitarian regime, the internet is a critical tool for people seeking justice. Your decision to help the Chinese government thwart this effort renders your motto “Don’t be evil” an ironic joke.
Please re-read your “Ten Things” company principles and do the right thing by ending your partnership with the Chinese government.
ActionNetwork points out, “Under China’s totalitarian regime, the internet is a critical tool for Chinese citizens and Tibetans to improve their political situation.
“Google has become an active partner in the Chinese government’s efforts to repress their own citizens along with Tibetans, Uighurs, Falun Gong practitioners, and anyone else standing up to Chinese authorities and demanding human rights and self-determination.”
(Thanks, Mingma)
Boing Boing has an item featuring pix from Telendro showing protesters from Students for a Free Tibet demonstrating in front of Google’s HQ and, “Paul Boutin has discovered that one way to thwart internet filters is too spel yur serch qweries inkorreckly,” it says going on:
“Over at News.com, Declan McCullagh reports that Google.cn not only omits politically sensitive material, but ‘goes further than similar services from Microsoft and Yahoo by targeting teen pregnancy, homosexuality, dating, beer and jokes’.
And there are loads more items. Just Google them.
What about Sergey and Larry?
They have their lawyer, Andrew McLaughlin, claiming on the Google blog that it’s all about creating, “a great experience for our users” because, “Google users in China today struggle with a service that, to be blunt, isn’t very good”.
The problem, “could only be resolved by creating a local presence, and this week we did so, by launching Google.cn, our website for the People’s Republic of China. In order to do so, we have agreed to remove certain sensitive information from our search results. We know that many people are upset about this decision, and frankly, we understand their point of view. This wasn’t an easy choice, but in the end, we believe the course of action we’ve chosen will prove to be the right one.”
Stay tuned.
Also See:
OK for Google – Microsoft backs Google, January 28, 2006
censorship – Google admits censorship, January 28, 2006
blog – Google in China, January 27, 2006
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If you’re Chinese and you’re looking for a way to access independent Internet news sources, try Freegate. It’s a free DIT program written to help Chinese people circumvent website blocking outside of China.
Download it here and feel free to copy the zip and host it yourself so others can download it.
January 30th, 2006 at 5:17 pm
There were some errors in that last paragraph. Here is the quote as Mr. McLaughlin intended.
The PR problem, “could only be justified by appropriating an obscene amount of profits, and this week we fired the first salvo, by launching Google.cn, our propaganda & disinformation site for the oppressive government of China. In order to do so, we have agreed to sell our souls. We know that many people are upset about this decision, and frankly, we don’t care, even a little. This was an easy choice, the money is there to be taken, and we believe the course of action we’ve chosen will prove to be the most profitable one.”
January 31st, 2006 at 12:52 am
Google has done nothing wrong… but some people wont stop until they can find something about google they can pick on…
Out of all the search engines (portals or whatever you want to call it) out there, Google is the best ethically… It’s sad that people look for something popular to pick on… -_-
I’ve never seen Google do anything wrong… and for those of you paranoid about their cookie… -_- it can’t hurt you at all.. =P
January 31st, 2006 at 9:22 am
How come everybody in USA plays to be surprise by Google ?
Dont you know that fascism dont have any preferred colour for its flag?
It can be black, red, or even blue and red with white stars!!!
Its not surprising that globalisations followers and red fascists works together to oppress peoples, since they both considere that HUMANS are fewer important than their gods : christus, mahommet, the “people of god”, karl marx, mao zhedong, stock exchange, US $, ….. They are all competing to master and enslave us.
Nota : think to this definition of fascism :
Are fascists all the ones pretending to have the right to decide what is good for others. Adopting this point of view helps to make everything more clear all around the world. Specially is is clear that *IST are fascISTs!
Sorry about my poor English … But i am French! You know …. The country of “La Fayette” ….
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January 31st, 2006 at 5:23 pm
Yeah, Halliburton and Enron get bad raps too. They’re just plain folks struggling to scratch out a living like the rest of us…
What would you say if Google agreed to block key words and censor search results in your country because of your government’s mandate to suppress dissent and freedom? The thugs in arm bands and jack boots will be kicking in your door before you figure out the difference between your butt and a hole in the ground.