This morning NPR reported that Google, Yahoo, and MSN were testifying before Congress about their dealings with China, in particular the way in which they seem to helping the Chinese government quell dissent. Check out San Bei Ji for an interesting example of a censored Google search.
On its face this appears pretty hypocritical when one considers that information companies would probably not enjoy the success they’ve had if they didn’t originate in societies where the free flow of information and free speech were not so highly valued. Of course a company’s main responsibility is to the shareholder, but does that mean that there is no place for higher values?
Last week’s rioting Islamists demanded limits to free speech in western societies. The rioting was terrible and hopefully counterproductive to their twisted cause, but ultimately the demands are laughable. Too many people have fought too hard throughout history for the right of free speech. Rent-a-mob rioters won’t change that.
We see the lack of respect for free speech in our society, however, when western companies accept government censorship, denial of human rights, and oppression as the cost of doing business. I know there are fortunes for western companies to make in China, but is greed really a suitable justification for denying the very principles of free speech that allow internet companies to exist in the first place?
Google’s position appears to be that this is what must be done to do business in China and that the end result will be a freer flow of information and a freer China. Perhaps they’re right. Engagement with China seems to have opened it up somewhat and I do support more engagement with Cuba for that very reason.
I hope Google’s theory is right in the long run, but it sure doesn’t make the western capitalist model of society look very good when people see western companies aiding oppressive governments to turn a profit.
That’s the sort of thing that angers people and drives them to riot in the streets or to join terrorist cells.
To abuse Voltaire: I may not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it unless I can profit by keeping you quiet.
James Brush is a teacher and writer who lives in Austin, TX. He tries to get outside as much as possible.
I think Yahoo is on shakier ground, having given over the name of a political dissident who subsequently ended up in prison.
I think you’re right. I did Yahoo! the Yahoo! issue (to see if they would suppress it in their search – they don’t) and was quite disgusted. I didn’t intend to single Google out in my post, that’s just the first example I found. The main issue here for me, though, is not the actions of specific companies, but the larger cultural issue surrounding the primacy of profit. It’s becoming disturbingly clear that there are precious few products or services that we can buy with a clean conscience.