User Search Data Made Public

**Don Corleone** · 08-07-2006, 16:48

So Google will give the Chinese government the information most of what it asks for, but actually is willing to fight the US government. Interesting. Wonder where their loyalties lie.

I'm just trying to remind you, friend Lemur, in the world of selling advertising space, the product is the search engine and the marketing spin is that Google is a more conscientious company then it's competitors. While I agree they have a superior product, I think they have no more and no less integrity then any other publicly traded company.

Height of cynicism? Sadly, with each passing day, I'm climbing to that peak more and more.

**Lemur** · 08-07-2006, 17:00

Originally Posted by Don Corleone

So Google will give the Chinese government the information most of what it asks for, but actually is willing to fight the US government. Interesting. Wonder where their loyalties lie.

Actually, noble Don, the evidence is that Google is giving China its blocklist, but not handing over search data. Of course, everything over there is a black hole, so we won't really know for years.

All we know for certain is that two companies have been identified as actively cooperating with handing over dissidents, and neither of them is Google.

**Don Corleone** · 08-07-2006, 17:05

Originally Posted by Lemur

Actually, noble Don, the evidence is that Google is giving China its blocklist, but not handing over search data. Of course, everything over there is a black hole, so we won't really know for years.

All we know for certain is that two companies have been identified as actively cooperating with handing over dissidents, and neither of them is Google.

Nice dodge.

The point I was making that you failed to answer was that Google WILL cooperate with a brutal repressive regime, but won't with it's own democratically elected government. Interesting take on 'do no harm'.

**Lemur** · 08-07-2006, 17:10

Originally Posted by Don Corleone

The point I was making that you failed to answer was that Google WILL cooperate with a brutal repressive regime, but won't with it's own democratically elected government.

Hmm, I don't think I was trying to dodge, just be clear. I usually know when I'm dodging ...

Is it "failure to cooperate" if you refer an issue to a judge? Is the judicial branch now outside of our government?

Is it "cooperation with brital repressive regime" if you comply with the bare minimum of their requests?

I'm not the designated Google spokesperson on the net, just so you know. I just want to be accurate. There's hard evidence that certain companies are going beyond web filtering in China. I'm not sure how much further I'm willing to speculate ...