Second Life Forums Archive - Is Google colluding with a repressive regime?

Nolan Nash

Frischer Frosch

Join date: 15 May 2003

Posts: 7,141

01-25-2006 22:46

I have always been somewhat of a fanboy, I must admit, but for the first time since it's inception, I am disappointed in Google.

The founder is on video, which I just watched, several years back, stating that they would never sell out their ethos in this manner, yet here we are...

A person on Newshour just accused them of "colluding" with a "repressive regime", and human rights groups are pissed off. I am not sure I would go as far as calling it "collusion with a repressive regime", but I am disappointed that Google seems to be putting $ signs (100 million Chinese internet users) before freedom of information.

For those who don't know, Google has agreed with the Chinese government to "voluntary self- censoring" - so, if you look up Tiananmen Square, you get approximately 13,000 hits versus millions on a normal Google search, and any reference to the Tiananmen Square Massacre is forbidden and will not return any hits. This carries over to any searches done on other questionable government activity, especially those concerning religion and human rights, such as Falun Gong.

Thoughts?

_____________________

“Time's fun when you're having flies.” ~Kermit

Joy Honey

Not just another dumass

Join date: 17 Jun 2005

Posts: 3,751

01-25-2006 22:52

From: Nolan Nash

I have always been somewaht of a fanboi, I must admit, but for the first time since it's inception, I am disappointed in Google.

The founder is on video, which I just watched, several years back, stating that they would never sell out their ethos in this manner, yet here we are...

A person on Newshour just accused them of "colluding" with a "repressive regime", and human rights groups are pissed off. I am not sure I would go as far as calling it "collusion with a repressive regime", but I am disappointed that Google seems to be seeing $ signs before freedom of information.

For those who don't know, Google has agreed with the Chinese government to "voluntary self censoring" - so, if you look up Tiananmen Square, you get 13,000 hits versus millions on a normal Google search, AND any reference to the Tiananmen Square Massacre is forbidden and do not return hits. This carries over to any searches done on other questionable government activity, especially those concerning religion and human rights, such as Falun Gong.

Thoughts?

I have many, but the first one is - OMG that really f'in SUCKS. Shame on Google for going for the almighty $.

Then I thought about it some more... "voluntary self-censoring" gosh... how many things can "accidentally" get by the "censors" - if you know what I mean. It's entirely possible Google could be a little on the sneaky side and some real information could get through to the masses....

I think I like the second thought I had much better than the first - and I hope I'm right.

_____________________

Reality continues to ruin my life. - Calvin

You have delighted us long enough. - Jane Austen

Sometimes I need what only you can provide: your absence. - Ashleigh Brilliant

Selador Cellardoor

Registered User

Join date: 16 Nov 2003

Posts: 3,082

01-26-2006 02:44

I can't understand how they are thinking. A couple of days ago we had a news item about Google refusing to hand over their data on searches to the United States government, and now this.

Of course for a search engine to 'self-censor' means that it is destroying its own effectiveness as a search engine, and I am sure that will be reflected in the number of users.

_____________________

Mulch Ennui

15 Minutes are Over

Join date: 22 May 2005

Posts: 2,607

01-26-2006 03:55

From: Joy Honey

Then I thought about it some more... "voluntary self-censoring" gosh... how many things can "accidentally" get by the "censors" - if you know what I mean. It's entirely possible Google could be a little on the sneaky side and some real information could get through to the masses....

I actually had been thinking along these lines...

_____________________

I have of late--but wherefore I know not--lost all my mirth, that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.

http://forums.secondcitizen.com/

AJ DaSilva

woz ere

Join date: 15 Jun 2005

Posts: 1,993

01-26-2006 04:10

On the other hand, Google could refuse to censor it's results for them and China would block them completely.

_____________________

Reitsuki Kojima

Witchhunter

Join date: 27 Jan 2004

Posts: 5,328

01-26-2006 04:34

Right.

Remember, The Great Firewall of China is still around. They just block sites they don't want people to get to. So a censored version of Google is argueably better than no version of Google.

_____________________

I am myself indifferent honest; but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me: I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offenses at my beck than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in. What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven? We are arrant knaves, all; believe none of us.

nimrod Yaffle

Cavemen are people too...

Join date: 15 Nov 2004

Posts: 3,146

01-26-2006 06:29

I don't think this is such a bad thing. It's not hurting us (yet), plus google will get millions of more hits. Even though it's censored by the government, it's still helping google.

Polka Pinkdot

Potential Slacker

Join date: 4 Jan 2006

Posts: 144

01-26-2006 10:14

From: AJ DaSilva

On the other hand, Google could refuse to censor it's results for them and China would block them completely.

Actually, that already happens pretty frequently with Google in China. They end up being blocked about 30% of the time apparently, the other times the queries are often delayed quite a bit. As a result, Google is not the dominant search engine in China, rather a competitor that is much cozier with the government is the leader, despite returning considerably worse results on searches in general.

To Google the choice was: Self censor or just give up on China.

Is Google colluding with a repressive regime?
Nolan Nash Frischer Frosch Join date: 15 May 2003 Posts: 7,141	01-25-2006 22:46 I have always been somewhat of a fanboy, I must admit, but for the first time since it's inception, I am disappointed in Google. The founder is on video, which I just watched, several years back, stating that they would never sell out their ethos in this manner, yet here we are... A person on Newshour just accused them of "colluding" with a "repressive regime", and human rights groups are pissed off. I am not sure I would go as far as calling it "collusion with a repressive regime", but I am disappointed that Google seems to be putting $ signs (100 million Chinese internet users) before freedom of information. For those who don't know, Google has agreed with the Chinese government to "voluntary self- censoring" - so, if you look up Tiananmen Square, you get approximately 13,000 hits versus millions on a normal Google search, and any reference to the Tiananmen Square Massacre is forbidden and will not return any hits. This carries over to any searches done on other questionable government activity, especially those concerning religion and human rights, such as Falun Gong. Thoughts? _____________________ “Time's fun when you're having flies.” ~Kermit
Joy Honey Not just another dumass Join date: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 3,751	01-25-2006 22:52 From: Nolan Nash I have always been somewaht of a fanboi, I must admit, but for the first time since it's inception, I am disappointed in Google. The founder is on video, which I just watched, several years back, stating that they would never sell out their ethos in this manner, yet here we are... A person on Newshour just accused them of "colluding" with a "repressive regime", and human rights groups are pissed off. I am not sure I would go as far as calling it "collusion with a repressive regime", but I am disappointed that Google seems to be seeing $ signs before freedom of information. For those who don't know, Google has agreed with the Chinese government to "voluntary self censoring" - so, if you look up Tiananmen Square, you get 13,000 hits versus millions on a normal Google search, AND any reference to the Tiananmen Square Massacre is forbidden and do not return hits. This carries over to any searches done on other questionable government activity, especially those concerning religion and human rights, such as Falun Gong. Thoughts? I have many, but the first one is - OMG that really f'in SUCKS. Shame on Google for going for the almighty $. Then I thought about it some more... "voluntary self-censoring" gosh... how many things can "accidentally" get by the "censors" - if you know what I mean. It's entirely possible Google could be a little on the sneaky side and some real information could get through to the masses.... I think I like the second thought I had much better than the first - and I hope I'm right. _____________________ Reality continues to ruin my life. - Calvin You have delighted us long enough. - Jane Austen Sometimes I need what only you can provide: your absence. - Ashleigh Brilliant
Selador Cellardoor Registered User Join date: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 3,082	01-26-2006 02:44 I can't understand how they are thinking. A couple of days ago we had a news item about Google refusing to hand over their data on searches to the United States government, and now this. Of course for a search engine to 'self-censor' means that it is destroying its own effectiveness as a search engine, and I am sure that will be reflected in the number of users. _____________________
Mulch Ennui 15 Minutes are Over Join date: 22 May 2005 Posts: 2,607	01-26-2006 03:55 From: Joy Honey Then I thought about it some more... "voluntary self-censoring" gosh... how many things can "accidentally" get by the "censors" - if you know what I mean. It's entirely possible Google could be a little on the sneaky side and some real information could get through to the masses.... I actually had been thinking along these lines... _____________________ I have of late--but wherefore I know not--lost all my mirth, that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours. http://forums.secondcitizen.com/
AJ DaSilva woz ere Join date: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 1,993	01-26-2006 04:10 On the other hand, Google could refuse to censor it's results for them and China would block them completely. _____________________
Reitsuki Kojima Witchhunter Join date: 27 Jan 2004 Posts: 5,328	01-26-2006 04:34 Right. Remember, The Great Firewall of China is still around. They just block sites they don't want people to get to. So a censored version of Google is argueably better than no version of Google. _____________________ I am myself indifferent honest; but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me: I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offenses at my beck than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in. What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven? We are arrant knaves, all; believe none of us.
nimrod Yaffle Cavemen are people too... Join date: 15 Nov 2004 Posts: 3,146	01-26-2006 06:29 I don't think this is such a bad thing. It's not hurting us (yet), plus google will get millions of more hits. Even though it's censored by the government, it's still helping google.
Polka Pinkdot Potential Slacker Join date: 4 Jan 2006 Posts: 144	01-26-2006 10:14 From: AJ DaSilva On the other hand, Google could refuse to censor it's results for them and China would block them completely. Actually, that already happens pretty frequently with Google in China. They end up being blocked about 30% of the time apparently, the other times the queries are often delayed quite a bit. As a result, Google is not the dominant search engine in China, rather a competitor that is much cozier with the government is the leader, despite returning considerably worse results on searches in general. To Google the choice was: Self censor or just give up on China.

Welcome to the Second Life Forums Archive

Is Google colluding with a repressive regime?