Google recently made a courageous decision to stand up against internet censorship in China. Google's stance may cost the company billions of dollars over time. It will be costly to investors and potentially lead to more restrictions on the free flow of information. Our government and specifically the Obama administration should stand in support of Google and the decision made by the company. Again, this is one of those "small" issues that may have big long lasting implications. I respect China saying that a company is free to do business in China if the company follows their laws, however, fundamentally, restricting the free flow of information is anti-free commerce. China's other business partners should do the same, like Canada. The irony of all of this is that Google is ultimately going to be a big target of anti-trust political posturing, in the US and the EU.
WE need a wake-up call!
Quote:
Google Briefed Administration
Google briefed the Obama administration before it took action, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said yesterday. He refused to characterize the discussions and reiterated the president’s previous remarks in support of Internet freedom.
Representatives of the Mountain View, California-based company spoke with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about the matter last week and had discussions with Obama’s national security advisers, according to administration officials.
Google didn’t seek U.S. government help and the administration officials didn’t encourage or argue against proceeding, the aides, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.
While Clinton called for the Chinese government to explain attacks on Google’s Chinese Web site aimed at e-mail accounts of human-rights activists, the administration was officially treating the matter as a part of the regular give-and-take in bilateral relations.
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Google's Censorship Dispute to Fuel Growing U.S.-China Tensions - Bloomberg.com
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