China censorship damaged us, Google founders admit

The Guardian ^ | January 27, 2007 | Jane Martinson

[george76]

Google's decision to censor its search engine in China was bad for the company, its founders admitted yesterday. Google, launched in 1998 by two Stanford University dropouts, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, was accused of selling out and reneging on its "Don't be evil" motto when it launched in China in 2005.

The company modified the version of its search engine in China to exclude controversial topics such as the Tiananmen Square massacre or the Falun Gong movement, provoking a backlash in its core western markets.

Asked whether he regretted the decision, Mr Brin admitted yesterday: "On a business level, that decision to censor... was a net negative."

The company has only once expressed any regret and never in as strong terms as yesterday. Mr Brin said the company had suffered because of the damage to its reputation in the US and Europe.

[zarf]

The hip progressive companies turn into rank hypocrites when it comes o big bucks? Who knew./s

[zarf]

The hip progressive companies turn into rank hypocrites when it comes o big bucks? Who knew./s

[george76]

[ROTB]

>From what was said yesterday a policy change seemed unlikely
>in the near future.

So why the handwringing?

[adorno]

"On a business level, that decision to censor... was a net negative."

How about on the ethical, moral, and principles basis?. Principles and ethics/morals don't matter if the business level takes precedence? So then, when it comes to business, your principles can be bought and your morals and ethics aren't worth anything?

The company has only once expressed any regret and never in as strong terms as yesterday.

Baloney! Their only regret was on the business level only. Their morals and ethics weren't mentioned.

Mr Brin said the company had suffered because of the damage to its reputation in the US and Europe.

But, the business suffered only as a result of the morals and ethics that they were willing to sell. They're not willing to acknowledge that.

Last year in a speech in Washington Mr Brin admitted the company had been forced to compromise its principles to operate in China. At the time, he also hinted at a potential reversal of its stance in the country, saying "perhaps now the principled approach makes more sense".

But, the only reason they're willing to acknowledge that their decision was unprincipled is because their business was hurt on the "business level". That's hypocrisy on the highest level.

[figgers3036]

This just in!

Fire is still hot!

[swheats]

Google dissing patriotic holidays in their art department doesn't help either. Compared to the big bucks and all it's rather petty I know but some things stand on principle.

[SunkenCiv]

self-ping

[shield]

It's more than china that's hurting you....your sorry search engine works against conservatives........

[george76]

 

Merry Christmas (apparently not) from the Google Grinches:

[george76]

They are handwringing because they are losing money.

[george76]

They are very two faced :

Speaking about one of the hot topics of this year's meeting in Davos, Mr Brin said he had decided to offset his carbon emissions after growing concerned about his own use of private jets, despite not really being sure about the efficacy of such programmes.

"I was concerned about my private jet travel and whatnot ...

[george76]

Larry Page said: "I believe in the future of newspapers," before admitting that he reads all his news online.

[burzum]

They are handwringing because they are losing money.

Hahaha! Google has a revenue of $7 billion with less than 10,000 employees (and a net profit of $1.5 billion). They aren't losing money. The only thing that is slowing them down in making money is that they are over-stressing the wheelbarrows full of cash that they keep carting in.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Because maybe they've already sold out to just about everyone they could make big bucks off of by selling out. If they turn down a little country like Lichtenstein's request for a censoring Google, it's not going to hurt them.

[george76]

You are correct.

They are not losing money directly.

I ment that they are losing extra money from some conservatives ( like me ) who refuse to click on their paid inclusions, refuse to add the google tool bar, etc.

They can still fly around in their private jets and then publically cry about global warming being caused by our suv's.

[Northern Alliance]

I switched to Yahoo more than 6 months ago, do a lot of searching, and do not regret it. Not that Yahoo is so conservative, but at least is better than Google.

[wodinoneeye]

Uh, no. Google damaged ITSELF by willingly going along with something against the basic idea behind their product -- the free and easy dissemination/distribution of information by the public.

They sided with tyrants for a few extra bucks.

[Enduring Freedom]

do no evil

unless the money is right