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China, censorship and what should the internet companies do?
Hi all
With all the discussion that has been happening
regarding China and Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft and
others, and the long quiet on APPLe, I thought it may
be a timely way of starting some debate...
In the recent news I posted there were a number of
articles discussing this and whether the
abovementioned companies were right or wrong in
acquiescing to China's desires that in effect enable
them to do business in China.
Do we take the view that they are right, within
certain boundaries, to do what China wants to enable
them to do business. And further, by giving people the
tools, even within some limits, it will give the
Chinese people the tools to find out about the world
outside China?
Or do we take the view that in any way acquiescing to
China's views is abhorrent?
Personally, I take the former view. As it says in the
article on Ethical Corporation's site
(http://www.ethicalcorp.com/content.asp?ContentID=4081):
"In China, the government has decided that internet
companies should not facilitate access to certain
kinds of information, and that those companies must
hand over the records of those that do access or
distribute it.
Is Google evil for abiding by the rules set down by
the Chinese government?
Was Wrigley?s evil for abiding by the Singaporean ban
on sales of chewing gum?
No company has the right to ignore the government of
the country in which it operates. Period."
OK... are there any comments out there for those on
the list?
Cheers
David
David Goldstein
address: 4/3 Abbott Street
COOGEE NSW 2034
AUSTRALIA
email: Goldstein_David @yahoo.com.au
phone: +61 418 228 605 - mobile; +61 2 9665 5773 - home
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