Nickname: Shivani

Review: The article highlights the problems people are facing with drug peddlers using Google. The fact that Google is not giving data is also being highlighted here. So what happens in the future would be interesting to watch as social networking is becoming a much-hyped fad in India.

Date reviewed: Sep 12, 2006 1:00 PM

Nickname: Smithy

Review: From "Tom Mariner:" "Review: Orkut? Kids in Brazil can download full color, full motion porn with people, animals, " Kids can do that here in America, too. It's still against the law both here and in Brazil. The fact that thousands of murderers, for example, have not been caught doesn't mean we shouldn't arrest and prosecute a killer that we have evidence against. You don't really have a point. "Tom Mariner:" "Google has to legally fight this or Ghana will demand the images tab be removed (or pay a fine) because pictures of cows can be found there. " Google can fight in the courts all they want, but they are still going to have to submit to the lawful judicial findings of a properly constituted court in a democratic Brazil. So far, they have lost every round in this fight. BTW, Ghana has had a solid democracy for over 10 years, and a strong, independent judiciary. Judicial findings there would be as binding on Google.

Date reviewed: Sep 10, 2006 5:12 AM

Nickname: RM

Review: It is an absurd for Google's Brazilian subsidiary to claim to be powerless. Doesn't it sell, or plan to sell, services and collect revenue in that country? Doesn't it want to protect Google's IP and brand in the local courts? Doesn't it want to engage in business under the local laws? Then, it must be fully accountable for its products, not just when it is convenient or profitable.

Date reviewed: Sep 9, 2006 2:27 AM

Nickname: AL

Review: Businesses have no right to put morality aside, nor should they be our morality police! However, businesses must conduct themselves properly and conduct business fairly while being good/safe for the environment (i.e., societal, financial, technical, mental, environmental, legal, et cetera). No more Enrons! Internet users' rights should be protected, but not at the cost of allowing terrorism (i.e., child pornography, terrorism, fraud, other criminal activity). Companies should act proactively and leave law enforcement to actively engange & disrupt/stop the actors involved -- no matter where they are.

Date reviewed: Sep 7, 2006 9:39 PM

Nickname: Tom Mariner

Review: Orkut? Kids in Brazil can download full color, full motion porn with people, animals, mechanical devices and "I didn't know you could do that" and the government wants Google to block access to the equivalent of 100 other sites. Ah, but none of the other sites have pockets as deep as Google. Let's call this what it is -- blatant extortion and stop with the moral analysis. The only morality involved is whether a bribe is OK. Google has to legally fight this or Ghana will demand the images tab be removed (or pay a fine) because pictures of cows can be found there.

Date reviewed: Sep 5, 2006 5:53 PM

Nickname: tiddle

Review: I completely agree with Smithy's comments. When Google engages in a double standard (such as how it behaves in China vs. the rest of the world), it does not make it any more noble. If users break the law (drug trafficking, abusing children, etc.), they deserve to be brought before the court. There is nothing noble about defending these people in the name of human rights. Period.

Date reviewed: Sep 5, 2006 1:22 AM

Nickname: Baiano

Review: I think the real problem is that Google has too much information on its users. If a person uses all the Google apps, than it's possible that Google knows everything about this person. If it starts to release this information, the requests will grow and what to do when the government of not so democratic countries want the same?

Date reviewed: Sep 4, 2006 6:07 PM

Nickname: Smithy

Review: Lemme see if I get this right. Google has no problem whatsoever handing over info on human rights advocates in China so the Communist Chinese goverment can terrorize them, but the same Google is having problems handing over info on Brazillian pedophiles, drug dealers, and assorted vicious crminals, who are using Google's Orkut to carry out their evil business? Even after a properly constituted court, in a democratic Brazil has ordered Google to do so? What arrogance! Time for the Brazilian goverment to impose the heaviest fines they can on Google, and throw the arrogant, criminal protecting Google executives in jail to cool their heels. Despite what the super puffed up Google thinks, they are not above the law.

Date reviewed: Sep 4, 2006 2:46 AM

Nickname: Jill

Review: Google has a right to do whatever they want with their material. Try blocking Google from your country, it won't work, it simply can't happen. Google does have a moral obligation to provide data about large groups of criminals using the service. I think Google should work with the legal services to get the documents in order, but not file anything if the legal documents are screwed up. Google is a good company, so what is really going on here? What doesn't the article's author know and how is that affecting the situation? Google is offering a nice, free service and people are complaining about it. Child porn should totally be shut down, but perhaps Google has a secret plan to get the criminals data and shut them down in large chunks. Has anyone considered Google could be working with the FBI? Google has no double standard. It is a good company, helping people by building the Internet so people know what's going on!

Date reviewed: Sep 3, 2006 10:04 AM

Nickname: Mac

Review: Perhaps if Google just did about 10,000 times more with regard to protecting children this would not be an issue. Perhaps if these rich children that own Google had kids, or had concern about others kids worked 1/100 as hard at protecting kids as they do serch algorithims there would not be a problem. Perhaps if these children that own Google thought of what it is like for a kid to be enslaved to sex and abused and how they are stopping or proliferating it they would do something appropriate about it. What is billions of dollars worth if you do not give a hoot about protecting kids. It took Bill Gates decades to stop collecting money and start using it for things other than $100 million houses. How long do we have to wait for the Google boys? Very sad. Very sick. Very inexcusible, inappropriate, and pathetic!

Date reviewed: Sep 3, 2006 7:18 AM