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Quote:After hearing reports that American tech giants like Microsoft and Yahoo are abiding by Chinese law mandating Internet censorship, some irritated U.S. politicians are threatening to pass laws restricting such cooperation.

Rep. Christopher Smith, a New Jersey Republican, said Thursday that the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Human Rights, which he heads, will hold a hearing in early to mid- February. Smith has invited representatives from the U.S. State Department, Microsoft, Yahoo, Cisco Systems, Google, and the international watchdog group Reporters Without Borders to speak.

The effort is designed to determine what can be done, either by legislative mandate or on a voluntary basis, to "dissociate a company from working hand-in-glove with a dictatorship...

Quote: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...

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.

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.

Quote:So much for the good feeling engendered by the company's refusal to give search data to the U.S. Department of Justice. Google's headed for a Congressional showdown because it chose to censor its new China portal.

Rep. Chris Smith (R - N.J.), chairman of the International Operations and Human Rights Subcommittee will convene hearings on the activities of U.S. Internet companies in China on February 13. Smith said in a press release announcing he intends to call representatives of Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft, among others, said "Many Chinese have suffered imprisonment and torture in the service of truth – and now Google is collaborating with their persecutors.”

Quote:Their mantra was "do no evil," and the company's statement still says Google's goal is to "organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful...

Yet Google's announcement Tuesday that it will comply with China's repressive laws by doctoring its search results in that country makes a mockery of those values.

Google is making a sacrifice, and a big one at that, risking its democratic image for more access in a country that will contribute very little business in the near future...

Maybe China's riches are worth it. I don't think so. But when you've tasted billions of dollars - like Brin and Page - I guess you can hire a boatload of attorneys to justify any choices you make.

Quote:Updated Google's support centre has pulled an answer to the topical question "Does Google censor search results?" Since the answer clearly stated the company "does not censor results for any search term", and given the company's recent foray into the lucrative Chinese search engine market, it seems fair that the internet monolith would probably want to review that particular stance and relegate the offending item to cache.

Yup, democracy is not a word you want to be flashing about when you've just opened a big fat Yuan bank account...

Don't be evil? Don't make us laugh

Quote:Google's new China search engine not only censors many Web sites that question the Chinese government, but it goes further than similar services from Microsoft and Yahoo by targeting teen pregnancy, homosexuality, dating, beer and jokes.

In addition, CNET News.com has found that contrary to Google co-founder Sergey Brin's promise to inform users when their search results are censored, the company frequently filters out sites without revealing it.

Mickey Spiegel, senior researcher in the Asia division of Human Rights Watch (blocked by Google and Yahoo but not Microsoft), said Google.cn was "a step backwards in terms of freedom of expression issues."

Quote:Distraught and angry Tibetans and their supporters are calling for a mass break up with Google this Valentine’s Day, citing Google's new partnership with the Chinese Government, Google.cn. Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) launched the website NoLuv4Google.com in order to help people navigate the tricky waters of this massive life change, as well as to provide an outlet for widespread anger and grief. SFT is also coordinating protests at Google’s offices worldwide on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, to help channel users’ emotions and, according to the organizers, “to provide closure.”

Other jilted users are urged to go to www.NoLuv4Google.com to seek counseling and advice on how to move on… and get even. There, you can post and read “Google Breakup Stories” including a testimonial from Tsering Lama of Vancouver, Canada. She writes, “Dear Google, if you think the Chinese Communist Party (we call them “CCP” for short) will be a good friend, take it from a Tibetan, you’re gravely mistaken. You’ll soon find them to be a fickle partner at best.” The website also provides support for Valentine’s Day demonstrations at Google offices worldwide.

Google launched a web search platform custom-built to the Chinese authorities' specifications that blocks access to and distorts information about Tibet, human rights, and other topics sensitive to Beijing.

Quote:Executives from Google Inc. and other Internet companies head to Capitol Hill next week, where they will become feature players in an awkward debate: Are U.S. companies giving in to China too easily?

Last month, Google announced an agreement with the Chinese government to censor search results from its Chinese site. It was the latest Internet company to accede to the Chinese government's censorship restrictions, following Cisco Systems Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc.

The hearing will likely produce more embarrassing publicity for the companies, and it may drive legislative momentum among lawmakers concerned about China's influence on the U.S. economy. Congressional aides are expecting a standing-room-only crowd, and the reception from politicians may be chilly...

Quote:Free-speech advocates have blasted Google and other Internet companies for bowing to China's demands that they censor or fork over information the communist government deemed objectionable.

Now, Congress is stepping in with proposed legislation that could hobble the companies as they plunge deeper into one of the world's hottest economies. This is Round 2 for Congress. Last year, it scrutinized and slowed other business deals with ties to China's government among oil companies and computer makers.

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., is drafting a bill that would force Internet companies including Google, Yahoo and Microsoft to keep vital computer servers out of China and other nations the State Department deems repressive to human rights. Moving servers would keep personal data they house from government reach. But that also could weaken the firms' crucial Internet search engines...