The Sandbox

So, Google says, the best way to reach a Billion people is to agree to the demands of a repressive government. After all, filtered information is better than no information, isn’t it?

Except that:

• No information at least tells you that it isn’t there.
• Google is creating new technology in order to accomplish this goal. This technology is ONLY useful for restricting information.
• When people in China improve their ability to bypass the filters, will Google devote itself to making the filters more effective? Will they become locked in an ongoing contest to keep the truth out of people’s hands?
• Once Google starts filtering Chinese information at the request of the government, will it be able to resist the urge to add a little filtering for its own benefit?  Would Chinese users always see Google goods and services first?  Bad press on Google disappear?  And, with those filters in place, why not do the same for other users?
• Does Google’s dual stand, that they will kowtow to the repressive Chinese regime while defying the constitutional democracy that we live under send some kind of message?