Bill Thompson writing for the BBC explains why he refuses to agree with the knee-jerk reaction to the news of Google’s censorship in China.
He points to the fact that Google.cn explains that censorship of the results have occurred and that much censorship is occurring in the UK and the US that the average user is not even aware of.
He believes that Google’s willingness to work with the Chinese government is a good thing in the long run.
But if we in the West, with our liberal political culture and our attempts to build open societies, do not engage with China then we lose the opportunity to influence them and convince them of the benefits that this brings. If the Chinese government fears instability then we should offer help and advice and support, not closed borders and locked doors.
Different circumstances require different responses, and just because sanctions were the right way to put pressure on apartheid South Africa does not mean that a technology blockade is the way to influence China.
Who can say what the repercussions of this will all be but I think he might well have a point.
Tags: censorship, internet
