Google founder regrets censoring China

Cory Doctorow 2:54 pm Sat Jan 27, 2007

Google founder Sergey Brin told an interviewer that censoring China's search-results at the behest of the totalitarian government in Beijing was a "net negative" for Google. Before this, Google's position on China was the a kind of Orwellian doublespeak: "We have to censor China because they have lots of money and we can't have any without participating in censorship" and "If we censor China but tell Chinese people when they're being censored, they'll clamor for democracy." (Um… yeah… What about if you just send uncensored web-results to China about democracy? Wouldn't that aid the cause of democracy more?)

Since moving into China, Google has been compared to Microsoft because of its dominant position and power. "We are very sensitive to people talking about us in that way," said Mr Brin. Mr Page described the differences between the two technology companies by saying "we have very open partnerships, we are very clear about being fair with revenues."

(via Slashdot)

See also:
Exiled Tibetans in Dharamsala protest Google censorship in China
Google in China: The Big Disconnect
Censorship: Comparisons of Google China and Google
Hacktivists parody Google logo for protest, China human rights fundraiser
Report: China blocking Google.com; censored Google.cn to be only option?
Not just in China: Google localized, censored in Azerbaijan?
Update: reports China is blocking Google.com, censored Google.cn becoming only option
Record companies: Google should censor the US, same as China
Okay, *do* be evil: Google launches censored google.cn in China
Google.cn: Tibetans protest, misspellers evade, updates.
Harsh words for US tech firms from House at China 'net hearings
Tech firms blasted over China policies on Capitol Hill
Proposed law targets tech-China cooperation
China 'net censorship: not one big brother, but many
Report: Online news of protest deaths blocked by China authorities
Google logo redesigned by Students for Free Tibet
Bloggers in China break silence on violent suppression of protest
China official: What 'net censorship? What jailed journalists
Tibetan poet's blogs shut down in China censorship wave
Net censorship: HOWTO bypass China's Great Firewall
China Communist party official: our net censorship modeled on West

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