Comments on: Google, Free Speech, and a World of Censors http://xrdarabia.org/2008/11/30/google-free-speech-and-a-world-of-censors/ Informed comment and commentary about Saudi Arabia, reform, and its relations with the US Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:46:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: John Burgess http://xrdarabia.org/2008/11/30/google-free-speech-and-a-world-of-censors/comment-page-1/#comment-17204 John Burgess Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:34:11 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=6154#comment-17204 I think that if a company decides that it would rather give up some of the rights it has as an American company in order to secure profits, then it has the right to do so. What it must ALSO do, though, is make it clear to any and all that it is doing precisely that. Say it, up front. Then let customers decide how they want to deal with it. I certainly understood the constraints that CNN was under in Saddam's Iraq. They had a choice to tell less than or other than the whole truth or to leave the country. They made their decision. Where they went astray, in my book, was to pretend that the case was otherwise. They should have had every report from Iraq prefaced with a statement to the effect: "We are operating under Iraqi censorship laws that control what we can or cannot say." Had they done this, then it would have been clear what the deal was. Viewers could make up their own minds about how much was being slanted, biased, shadowed, whatever. Google, like CNN, tries to be 'global' and does shy away from questions of nationality. That, too, is a business decision and theirs to make. It is our decision to act on that as we decide. I think that if a company decides that it would rather give up some of the rights it has as an American company in order to secure profits, then it has the right to do so.

What it must ALSO do, though, is make it clear to any and all that it is doing precisely that. Say it, up front. Then let customers decide how they want to deal with it.

I certainly understood the constraints that CNN was under in Saddam’s Iraq. They had a choice to tell less than or other than the whole truth or to leave the country. They made their decision.

Where they went astray, in my book, was to pretend that the case was otherwise. They should have had every report from Iraq prefaced with a statement to the effect: “We are operating under Iraqi censorship laws that control what we can or cannot say.”

Had they done this, then it would have been clear what the deal was. Viewers could make up their own minds about how much was being slanted, biased, shadowed, whatever.

Google, like CNN, tries to be ‘global’ and does shy away from questions of nationality. That, too, is a business decision and theirs to make. It is our decision to act on that as we decide.

]]> By: ratherdashing http://xrdarabia.org/2008/11/30/google-free-speech-and-a-world-of-censors/comment-page-1/#comment-17200 ratherdashing Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:33:22 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=6154#comment-17200 I will agree that Google is not the government and they have the business right to censor whatever they please. I should also be happy with the gains we've seen with Google in China (for example). But, I've read enough to know that they restrict content in order to have access in the Chinese market and other places. What signal does this send? That threats trump free speech? CNN did the same thing in Baghdad with the Saddam Hussein regime. They placate to gain access. I'm just no fan of Google. I use Yahoo!, somewhat out of principle. Google is an American company that shows little American patriotism because it considers itself a world citizen. They don't fly the US flag on their web banner on patriotic US holidays. That just gets my goat. They have the benefit of what America offers and don't acknowledge it. I will agree that Google is not the government and they have the business right to censor whatever they please. I should also be happy with the gains we’ve seen with Google in China (for example). But, I’ve read enough to know that they restrict content in order to have access in the Chinese market and other places. What signal does this send? That threats trump free speech? CNN did the same thing in Baghdad with the Saddam Hussein regime. They placate to gain access.

I’m just no fan of Google. I use Yahoo!, somewhat out of principle. Google is an American company that shows little American patriotism because it considers itself a world citizen. They don’t fly the US flag on their web banner on patriotic US holidays. That just gets my goat. They have the benefit of what America offers and don’t acknowledge it.

]]> By: John Burgess http://xrdarabia.org/2008/11/30/google-free-speech-and-a-world-of-censors/comment-page-1/#comment-17196 John Burgess Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:51:11 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=6154#comment-17196 I don't know that I'd trust her (or much of anybody, actually) to be the arbiter of what <em>I</em> consider appropriate. But she did a pretty good job in reporting the issue. There are plenty of people who think Google (and Yahoo) are part of the problem in that they don't stand up for absolute free speech. I think those people have confused Google with some missionary group, or perhaps a government. I don't have to like the way Google or Yahoo does or doesn't find compromises with governments, but it's their business decisions. I do have to respect that they will make what seem right for them. What are the alternatives? Stop doing Google in China or Iran? That might make some feel good, but I'm not sure what effect it would have. I don’t know that I’d trust her (or much of anybody, actually) to be the arbiter of what I consider appropriate. But she did a pretty good job in reporting the issue.

There are plenty of people who think Google (and Yahoo) are part of the problem in that they don’t stand up for absolute free speech. I think those people have confused Google with some missionary group, or perhaps a government.

I don’t have to like the way Google or Yahoo does or doesn’t find compromises with governments, but it’s their business decisions. I do have to respect that they will make what seem right for them. What are the alternatives? Stop doing Google in China or Iran? That might make some feel good, but I’m not sure what effect it would have.

]]> By: ratherdashing http://xrdarabia.org/2008/11/30/google-free-speech-and-a-world-of-censors/comment-page-1/#comment-17191 ratherdashing Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:00:40 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=6154#comment-17191 YouTuble = YouTube (sheesh) YouTuble = YouTube

(sheesh)

]]> By: ratherdashing http://xrdarabia.org/2008/11/30/google-free-speech-and-a-world-of-censors/comment-page-1/#comment-17190 ratherdashing Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:43:51 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=6154#comment-17190 Nicole Wong has a journalism and law degree from UC Berkely. Why am I getting hives just thinking about her being the arbiter of what is considered appropriate speech for Google and YouTuble? Nicole Wong has a journalism and law degree from UC Berkely. Why am I getting hives just thinking about her being the arbiter of what is considered appropriate speech for Google and YouTuble?

]]> By: John Burgess http://xrdarabia.org/2008/11/30/google-free-speech-and-a-world-of-censors/comment-page-1/#comment-17187 John Burgess Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:24:06 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=6154#comment-17187 I know that in Saudi Arabia, both <em>Arab News</em> and <em>Saudi Gazette</em> (and I'm sure other Saudi papers) are blocked to users in the KSA. This is a commercial decision: the owners of the papers think that there's money to be made in blocking local access, thereby forcing would-be readers to buy a copy. A similar kind of thinking may prevail in the UAE. This goes against general newspaper business trends which has more and more media opening up content online. Then again, most of the print media (and a lot of broadcast media) are having serious financial issues while they hemorrhage hard-copy readers. Your guess is as good as mine about what this all means in the long run! I know that in Saudi Arabia, both Arab News and Saudi Gazette (and I’m sure other Saudi papers) are blocked to users in the KSA. This is a commercial decision: the owners of the papers think that there’s money to be made in blocking local access, thereby forcing would-be readers to buy a copy. A similar kind of thinking may prevail in the UAE.

This goes against general newspaper business trends which has more and more media opening up content online.

Then again, most of the print media (and a lot of broadcast media) are having serious financial issues while they hemorrhage hard-copy readers. Your guess is as good as mine about what this all means in the long run!

]]> By: Swedish http://xrdarabia.org/2008/11/30/google-free-speech-and-a-world-of-censors/comment-page-1/#comment-17186 Swedish Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:13:02 +0000 http://xrdarabia.org/?p=6154#comment-17186 Here in the UAE, I often find a lot of sites blocked for reasons I do not know. The news here is very good though, the Gulf News and The National are examples. I often find pieces from the New York Times, Washington Post and editorials from Near East think tanks. Ireally do not think that any newspaper is "objective". I think as time progresses here in the UAE, less of this censorshop will enevelop the internet. Also, I do not think that there will be a universally accepted censorship as the interpetation of issues vary greatly around the globe. Here in the UAE, I often find a lot of sites blocked for reasons I do not know. The news here is very good though, the Gulf News and The National are examples. I often find pieces from the New York Times, Washington Post and editorials from Near East think tanks. Ireally do not think that any newspaper is “objective”. I think as time progresses here in the UAE, less of this censorshop will enevelop the internet. Also, I do not think that there will be a universally accepted censorship as the interpetation of issues vary greatly around the globe.

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