OT: Hands Off Google!

[Alan Dayley]

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Randy Melder wrote:
> editor beating death on google.cn
> <http://www.google.cn/search?hl=zh-CN&q=editor+beating+death&btnG=Google+%E6%90%9C%E7%B4%A2&meta=>
> editor beating death on google.com
> <http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=editor+beating+death&btnG=Search+News>
> 
> do no evil... well maybe just a little evil. no one will notice.

OK, I'll chime in with an analogy, imperfect though it may be...

Lets suppose you run a "mission" or halfway-house for drug addicts.
Your goal is to help them leave the streets, get clean and return to
productive life.  In such a position, you get first hand knowledge of
crimes every day.  Illegal drugs, drug deals, confessions of robberies
etc. are common occurrences in your work.  If you always report this
kind of knowledge to the police, how effective will you be in your work
with the addicted?  If you don't report it, doesn't that make you an
"accessory" to the crimes committed?

Comparing the work of rehabilitation and help for the drug addicted to
the services Google provides a huge stretch, I agree.  Google's first
job is also to make a profit so that is another way the above story does
not quite fit.  But, here is my point for telling it.

If Google does not filter search results, they would be blocked
completely from the Chinese network.  Which is the lesser evil:
Providing no information to the Chinese people or providing filtered
information with a clear indication that the results are filtered?
Which of the two allows you to have some influence and some
participation in the improvement in the life of the Chinese people?
Would being completely blocked from China to take a stand benefit the
people more than providing at least some information?

It appears to me that Google thought some participation the the
spreading of information was more beneficial (ie less evil) than no
participation at all.  (And they thought it would earn them money, I'm
sure.)

These are the thoughts that go through my mind when thinking/discussing
weather or not Google is "doing evil" with respect to their current
filtering via google.cn.

Alan

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