SiteProNews: Google.cn: The Internet As Beijing Sees It

SiteProNews: Google.cn: The Internet As Beijing Sees It: "the last two or three years have shown us the inherent strength of the search engine - and none more than
Google. And I believe that an unintended consequence of Google's controversial stance in China has an awareness increase of just how influential search results can be. Comparisons of 'Tiananm en' searches are illustrating this. Several blogs are showing split screen stills of keyword results using 'Tiananmen'on Google Images. Google.cn shows picture after picture of a lovely park, while Google.com shows a screen full of those infamous images of a lone protestor in front of menacing tanks.

Just one example of real time censorship is being beamed live over the internet, brought to you by Google. It makes for
unintentional and terrible publicity for Google. Oddly timed,too, considering Google's righteous defense here in the United States against government intrusion into their own affairs.

From a business perspective Google's position is sound and totally understandable....

Could anyone actually believe that Google will protect Chinese Internet users if the powers in Beijing started making demands for private search information on Chinese searches? Google has entered China on Beijing's terms, compromised. When issues of ethics arise Google won't have much to say because they are clearly in China for the dough. The power of search, that we see in China, can - and let's be frank, will be used against the people someday. This would make Google, of "Do No Evil" fame - somewhat complicit.

Until some big changes occur in Beijing I foresee much awkwardness for the "Do No Evil" bunch's operation in China.
Simply put, the Party Leaders in Beijing have Google over a barrel - I suppose that means selling out. If they cared only
about profits, this article might not have even been written. But this is Google. And their product is a powerful tool and they've already yielded it to some very powerful folks in Beijing. This time it was to prevent the Chinese people from accessing certain information. As this tool of search continues to refine and become powerful, it's tough to say what Google will be asked for. Perhaps Google will be coerced into giving up the identities of their own users in China. It is anything but a farfetched scenario.

Is hypocrisy in big business expected? Sure, to some degree. But this is dangerous hypocrisy."