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Decline of the Internet?

Entry 275, on 2006-01-26 at 13:35:08 (Rating 2, Computers)

One of the most valuable functions of the Internet has always been that it is a place where free speech has been possible, transcending political and social fashions, national boundaries, and even specific laws occasionally. Two recent incidents have made the future of this aspect of the Internet questionable. Both involve search engines, most importantly Google.

The first incident is the US Department of Justice's request for a week's worth of data from their search logs. Of course, other search companies, such as MSN, have already handed over the information, but we expect more from Google. Microsoft don't care about what's right and wrong, they just want to make more money and gain more power. But Google was supposed to be different, and so far they have been. For months they have refused to hand over the information, and rightly so.

Information of this sort should only be made available when it concerns specific people, and then only if there is good reason to believe that person is involved in a serious crime. Just looking through confidential data in the hope of finding something incriminating is not justified. So well done Google, for standing up for what's right on this occasion.

In the second incident Google didn't do so well. I'm referring to their decision to filter search results on their China search system. Again, all other search engines already do this, but again we expect more of Google. Unfortunately, they have given in to political pressure and search results don't include anything the Chinese government considers embarrassing, such as web sites dedicated to the Chinese oppression of Tibet and Taiwan.

I know why Google have done this. They want to be in China because there is so much money to be made there. But to be allowed to operate they have to obey instructions from the government - and they have, which is unfortunate. But maybe this is an inevitable consequence of the increasing commercialisation of the Internet. When the primary focus shifts from providing a service to making money, these compromises will always follow.

Comment 1 (169) by OJB on 2006-01-28 at 12:11:56:

I read a comment by Bill Thompson, on the BBC's web site saying he supports Google's decision to censor searches in China. He points out that all countries have varying degrees of filtering - for example in the UK some illegal porn sites are filtered from search results.

I take his point, but wouldn't put quite as positive a spin on it as he does. Its a matter of degree and intent, and surely Chinese censorship is primarily politically motivated, as contrasted to western filtering which has a more reasonable legal basis.

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