Google

[bascule]

Is anyone else pissed that Google is getting so much flak for censoring the Chinese version of their site, but AOL and MSN handing over all sorts of customer data to the government has gone virtually unnoticed?

[Voltage Spike]

Remember that time Google was in trouble because there was a bug in the page ranking system?

Remember that time Google was in trouble because they don't instantly delete mail?

Remember that time Google was in trouble because they were targetting ads using content of people's mail?

Remember that time Google was in trouble because they refused to hand over information to our government?

Google has had the same problem since the beginning: they are extremely open about their operations. Every player is using the same techniques but Google documents what people can only speculate about with the others.

[klepto]

Is anyone else pissed that Google is getting so much flak for censoring the Chinese version of their site, but AOL and MSN handing over all sorts of customer data to the government has gone virtually unnoticed?

The community praised when google refused to give the information over to the government, so I think in a way it removes any argument of that gmail is evil..

Honestly, google really doesn't have a choice when it comes to a country's law. Whether we like China's censorship status or not, it's really not google's fault, but on the other hand, Google's motto IS "Do no evil". So on one hand, you can call them hypocritical but on the other, they were blocked by china in the first place.

Ever since google went public, I'm not sure if they would have gone into China at all promising to censor, so I don't know if this is the stockholder's decision or google exec's.

[Floydr47]

Google is a business, they have to make decisions in a business like manner. I respect Google for it's "Do no Evil" stance. but at the same time I realize that they must turn a profit. China is the second largest marketplace on the face of the earth. For Google to stay out of China would make no sense whatsoever businesswise. In order to operate in China they must obey the laws of that country. As much as we might abhor the censorship that rules China, at the same time we cannot expect every country to live by our laws. Google has made a deal with the devil, but it was the only thing that Google could do that makes any business sense. In order to compete they must make concessions. They have at least gotten their foot through the door in China, who knows, in time they may be able to offer more of their services to the Chinese people. Rome wasn't built in a day.

[grimnocturnal]

I agree with Floydr47 on the fact that business wise, China ia an invaluable customer but "beggers can't be choosers" (to quote somebody, I don't know who) and if China wants google's services and all thier godly wisdom than they are going to have to accept what google is: a Find anything search engine, that should not be censored.

[Thorn]

I agree with Floydr47 on the fact that business wise, China ia an invaluable customer but "beggers can't be choosers" (to quote somebody, I don't know who) and if China wants google's services and all thier godly wisdom than they are going to have to accept what google is: a Find anything search engine, that should not be censored.

Isn't it the opposite? I.e. That Google wants the Chinese market?

[enven]

Isn't it the opposite? I.e. That Google wants the Chinese market?

Obviously they want a part of the Chinese market; but in all honesty...I think all the animosity-build up is coming from the bias media; due to the fact they're working with a "communist" government's (one sided; and obviously just a good excuse) say in what they wish of the chinese people to view. (Just an opinion.)