Google pulls 'we don't censor' statement | The Register

Link: Google pulls 'we don't censor' statement | The Register. "Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely." "Money is the root of all evil." Pick your aphorism. After its announcement that it would censor certain information in searches made in China, so as to meet Chinese Government objections, Google's help file note that it doesn't censor its results has been pulled. Is the company going to substitute the statement with something? If so,  I have a few "modest proposals" for the company. How about "We don't censor any search information, ever, under any circumstances, unless the money is right." Or, how about this: "Censorship, smensorship. It's about winning, baby." How naive of me to believe that a company could be grown from idealistic young entrepreneurs who cared more about the truth than the dollar? You would think that, at my age, my illusions would be shatter-proof. I still love Google's innovation and products. I now, however, have a healthy dose of skepticism about their motives. After hearing the excuse that a "little" freedom is better than none, I have another aphorism for you: "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

Comments

[Carlos Leyva]

Rick,

These mega-companies are starting to behave like nation states, with the same sorts of rationale for "questionable" behavior--such as "better to stay engaged..."

There are perhaps legitimate reasons to take these positions, but it is hard not to see it as a compromise where naturally the economically rational thing always seems to prevail over principle. In that sense this decision is not surprising, what would have been surprising (and refreshing) would be to see Google take a stand, of course now that they are publicly traded they have the market to answer to.

That said, very few, if any, will stop using their search engine--just goes to show the power of (monopoly) technology.