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Google Fights for Freedom
On the same day Rep. John Conyers (MI) held a subcommittee hearing on surveillance abuses in the Bush administration, Google is reported to be strongly challenging a new law that requires web search companies to deliver a random sample of client data to the government. This data is officially designated to data-mine for objectionable content involving minors, according to the article linked to this post's title. Do we really trust this administration won't be digging for more information and looking for other things, given their record of squashing alternative points of view and controlling access to information about their operations? Freedom loving Americans will be wise to be skeptical. Neo-cons and the Bush administration have shown a strong thirst for power, and loose interpretations of the truth. As Clinton used to ask, "What is is?"
Today, Google is a pre-eminent company in an extremely robust industry. It is also a very different kind of company. We can only hope it is the model of the 21st century enterprise.
The heart of Google is its corporate philosophy, and intrinsic focus on professionalism that stand in stark contrast to old world top-down, central-control , old-boy, crony-dominated, corrupt, global conglomerates. Googles corporate philosophy is the following:
"Never settle for the best
'The perfect search engine,' says Google co-founder Larry Page, 'would understand exactly what you mean and give back exactly what you want.' Given the state of search technology today, that's a far-reaching vision requiring research, development and innovation to realize.
Google is committed to blazing that trail. Though acknowledged as the world's leading search technology company, Google's goal is to provide a much higher level of service to all those who seek information, whether they're at a desk in Boston, driving through Bonn, or strolling in Bangkok."
Unfortunately, Google's competitors do not share its passion for standing firm in the face of the government injecting itself into their businesses. MSN and AOL have cooperated fully with providing records. Yahoo! has provided some limited data. According to reports, the government is not entirely satisfied with Yahoo!s response.
Our economy and our country are both at a cross-roads. We can look to the past and old money, as the neocon have chosen; or we can aspire to revolutionize the world with breakthrough 21st century technologies brought to us by companies who "NEVER SETTLE FOR THE BEST" The choice is ours.
By the way, Google's stock is down below $400/share for the first time in two months following news of this little scrap with the Bush administration. What is the GM stock price?
Will America Lead?
posted by REB 84 | 1/20/2006 10:16:00 PM
7 Comments:
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I own a few shares of Google and emailed their investor relations office to thank them for their principled stand.
Vegcar.net
Welcome to QuestionItNow Dan,
Please visit UseEveryBrain & Still InIraq and share your thoughts.
REB 84
Ugh...It appears that it's all about the money after all...
Alas...
Online search engine leader Google Inc. has agreed to censor its results in China, adhering to the country's free-speech restrictions in return for better access in the Internet's fastest growing market.
The Mountain View, Calif.-based company planned to roll out a new version of its search engine bearing China's Web suffix ".cn," on Wednesday. A Chinese-language version of Google's search engine has previously been available through the company's dot-com address in the United States.
By creating a unique address for China, Google hopes to make its search engine more widely available and easier to use in the world's most populous country.
Because of government barriers set up to suppress information, Google's China users previously have been blocked from using the search engine or encountered lengthy delays in response time.
The service troubles have frustrated many Chinese users, hobbling Google's efforts to expand its market share in a country that expected to emerge as an Internet gold mine over the next decade.
China already has more than 100 million Web surfers and the audience is expected to swell substantially _ an alluring prospect for Google as it tries to boost its already rapidly rising profits.
Baidu.com Inc., a Beijing-based company in which Google owns a 2.6 percent stake, currently runs China's most popular search engine. But a recent Keynote Systems survey of China's Internet preferences concluded that Baidu remains vulnerable to challenges from Google and Yahoo Inc.
To obtain the Chinese license, Google agreed to omit Web content that the country's government finds objectionable. Google will base its censorship decisons on guidance provided by Chinese government officials.
Although China has loosened some of its controls in recent years, some topics, such as Taiwan's independence and 1989's Tiananmen Square massacre, remain forbidden subjects.
Google officials characterized the censorship concessions in China as an excruciating decision for a company that adopted "don't be evil" as a motto. But management believes it's a worthwhile sacrifice.
"We firmly believe, with our culture of innovation, Google can make meaningful and positive contributions to the already impressive pace of development in China," said Andrew McLaughlin, Google's senior policy counsel.
Google's decision rankled Reporters Without Borders, a media watchdog group that has sharply criticized Internet companies including Yahoo and Microsoft Corp.'s MSN.com for submitting to China's censorship regime.
"This is a real shame," said Julien Pain, head of Reporters Without Borders' Internet desk. "When a search engine collaborates with the government like this, it makes it much easier for the Chinese government to control what is being said on the Internet."
When Google censors results in China, it intends to post notifications alerting users that some content has been removed _ to comply with local laws. The company provides similar alerts in Germany and France when, to comply with national laws, it censors results to remove references to Nazi paraphernalia.
Google is cooperating with China's government at the same time it is battling the U.S. government over a subpoena seeking a breakdown of one week's worth of search requests _ a list that would cover millions of terms.
Reflecting its uneasy alliance with the Chinese government, Google isn't releasing all its services.
Neither Google's e-mail nor blogging services will be offered in China because the company doesn't want to risk being ordered by the government to turn over anyone's personal information. The e-mail service, called Gmail, creates a huge database of users' messages and makes them instantly searchable. The blogging services contain a wide range of personal background.
Yahoo came under fire last year after it provided the government with the e-mail account information of a Chinese journalist who was later convicted for violating state secrecy laws.
Initially, Google's Chinese service will be limited to searching Web pages and images. The company also will provide local search results and a special edition of its news service that will be confined to government-sanctioned media.
Cal,
Sorry to get back to you so late. I've been very busy. I just noticed that Steve on Harry Reid's blog called my attention to the same development.
Yes, it is about the money with any global company. Yet, Google decided to stand up for privacy in the USA.
I'll miss Thimks. Please visit again when you have a chance.
REB 84
but not stand up for human rights in China...Go figure
Yeah I miss Thimks...I'll probably start again in a few months or so...Lot's going on around church land. We're up to 320 adult members and 440 in average attendance on Sunday. 17 people in our new members class and 11 in Alpha (get to know Jesus) class. All on top of building a parking lot!!! Lots to do for Mr man...
Cal,
QuestionItNow is developing a secure blog collaboration business. We figure there is a great need for coordination and intelligent decision making in non-profits.
How do you like the idea of a login/pwd front end, and a secure blog space that would require every user to have a unique identity?
We believe the collaboration and free flow of thinking that is seen on political blogs should be leveraged by innovative organizations to help make better use of time. And more focused conversations. People can edit their words and think about what they are saying - before they post, and there is a built in permanent record of all comments on blogs.
Collaborative Blogs will enable professionals to be active members of their chosen communities anywhere they can find internet access.
Any thoughts?
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