Since Google has decided to do business in China and follow the Chinese government's rules - namely that certain content searches will be blocked - there seems to be an outcry that "Google has sold out" or "sold their soul". Couple of links to show you the arguments:
Slashdot
The original article from Yahoo's Net Stocks
While this moral high ground is certainly great fodder for picking over, including the idea that Google may not be "doing no evil" by doing business in China under the PRC rules, there is the simple fact that China is allowing Internet access to the world. Yes, it has been filtered to the PRC's standards, but there is still access. If Google and other companies followed the extreme belief that they shouldn't do business in China if they can't do it their own way (no PRC restrictions on content), you have the same results as just taking away all access to the world from China. Imagine that, no Internet outside what is available within the borders of China. Censorship at its best. Instead, Google managed to get some content allowed through to the Chinese people. When you are trying to break down the walls of a repressive government, small steps and little leaks do far more than building another wall beside their's and exclaiming "we will remove our wall when you remove your's". Doesn't that make sense to anyone but me?
J*
Slashdot
The original article from Yahoo's Net Stocks
While this moral high ground is certainly great fodder for picking over, including the idea that Google may not be "doing no evil" by doing business in China under the PRC rules, there is the simple fact that China is allowing Internet access to the world. Yes, it has been filtered to the PRC's standards, but there is still access. If Google and other companies followed the extreme belief that they shouldn't do business in China if they can't do it their own way (no PRC restrictions on content), you have the same results as just taking away all access to the world from China. Imagine that, no Internet outside what is available within the borders of China. Censorship at its best. Instead, Google managed to get some content allowed through to the Chinese people. When you are trying to break down the walls of a repressive government, small steps and little leaks do far more than building another wall beside their's and exclaiming "we will remove our wall when you remove your's". Doesn't that make sense to anyone but me?
J*
