Google: It's about the money

news24: Kowtowing to Chinese censors while defying US lawyers is part of a money-making strategy by internet search powerhouse Google, analysts said on Wednesday.

Silicon Valley-based Google is tailoring tactics to legal rules in the United States and China, the top two internet markets on the planet, according to industry experts.

"Google isn't totally on the side of good," Rebecca Jeschke of the Electric Frontier Foundation told AFP. "It's about money, always."

"There is a ton of money to be made in China and the rules are a little different when there is that much money to be made."

Google agreed to censor websites and content in its search service launched on Wednesday in China while at the same time challenging the US government's request for web search data.

Google's move followed similar actions by rivals Microsoft and Yahoo in co-operating with Chinese censorship.

Republican congressman Chris Smith slammed Google's decision and announced he would lead a February 16 hearing into procedures of US internet companies in China.

"It is astounding that Google, whose corporate philosophy is 'Don't be Evil,' would enable evil by co-operating with China's censorship policies just to make a buck," said Smith, chairperson of a subcommittee on human rights.

"Many Chinese have suffered imprisonment and torture in the service of truth - and now Google is collaborating with their persecutors." Link

db: Profit the primary goal? Shocker. Don't hold your breath for a shareholder rebellion.

See How China Controls the Internet