Nickname: Franklinp

Review: Funny, Google is getting whooped in China. Please don't act like it has a huge effect on the market as a preferred search engine. All our American engines are getting trounced by local engines that understand their customers. "Macro" censorship issues aside, Chinese dialogue in chat rooms and bulletin boards is as lively as ever. Chinese people have been learning how to duck this government for about 5000 years. Don't worry, not being able to "Google" democracy or whatever is not the end of free expression for Chinese people.

Date reviewed: Feb 20, 2006 8:26 AM

Nickname: Malle

Review: This is just the first step. Eventually the Internet and Net-based companies will be subjugated by the Chinese dictators and used as excellent instruments in the control of the people. When the pressure on the Chinese people increases, so will the criticism of Yahoo, Google and Microsoft, which no longer support democratic values.

Date reviewed: Jan 29, 2006 11:00 PM

Nickname: Steph

Review: It's interesting that a lot of those against Google's decision are outside of China, where the decision won't affect them one lick. A lot of the Chinese blogs and expat blogs based in China seem to see this as a necessary evil. And while I personally feel that censorship is reprehensible, the only alternative Google would have would be to not do business in China. Now, this would be an admirable stance, but really, the fact is it won't hurt the Chinese government one lick. The only ones hurt would be the 1 billion Chinese consumers, quite frankly. And it's very easy for foreigners to posture and denounce the evils of Google. They're not affected one way or the other. But if you're living in China, limited to the services that are available there, censored Google searches with a disclaimer are better than no searches at all. Besides, the original Google is still available, only a little harder to get to.

Date reviewed: Jan 27, 2006 7:07 PM

Nickname: jason

Review: Now Google is in collusion with the Chinese human-rights censors. Don't pretend to be "cool" anymore, Google. You've just proven your eagerness to sink to the lowest depths of an "anything-for-a-profit" scheme.

Date reviewed: Jan 26, 2006 6:04 AM

Nickname: Joe

Review: Google should do it. Although it is a risky step, it worth the risk.

Date reviewed: Jan 26, 2006 1:48 AM

Nickname: johnsmith

Review: People are hating Google for this move. Have a look at the following: Look at slashdot.org, where more than 800 people have posted their comments on this issue, mostly against Google. This site is a geek heaven and formerly a bastion of Google lovers. Also, www.studentsforafreetibet.org is organizing a protest outside Google's HQ in California today at 5 p.m. The top search results for "Tiananmen Square" in google.cn are Chinese govt. sites -- no mention of the tragedy wherever. Try the same search on google.com. This is despicable on Google's part. I hope there are Senate hearings on this matter and Google executives have to pay dearly for this. I have switched from using Google services and hope that others will too.

Date reviewed: Jan 25, 2006 9:31 PM

Nickname: Kam

Review: "Do No Evil" Ha! How many people bought Google shares with this quote in mind? Time for a lawsuit. Lies in a prospectus are fully actionable.

Date reviewed: Jan 25, 2006 9:14 PM

Nickname: crock

Review: I think Google should stay in the good old USA. There could be very bad fines and penalties in China.

Date reviewed: Jan 25, 2006 7:51 PM

Nickname: a guy

Review: Business has to obey local regulation, not just in China. And it is not the first media/internet company obeying the Chinese law. Not a big deal at all.

Date reviewed: Jan 25, 2006 5:33 PM

Nickname: Eugene K.

Review: Despite all the bromides from Google about changing the world, obviously money still matters most. In the current relationship between China and the West, free access to information is one of the only goods/services we'll ever hope to export to China. Google should use its vast resources to push its full content into China, and battle the Chinese government's efforts to stop it. Just visualizing how Google will sit down and determine what's off limits is funny -- or maybe the Chinese, being very efficient, already have one prepared for Sergei and what's his name to swallow like bad medicine. Obviously there are a brave few in China who might want to Google "multi-party elections." Yikes -- scary stuff. And I think Google/the world owe those brave souls an honest reply.

Date reviewed: Jan 25, 2006 2:36 PM