AP Reports on Mounting Criticism of Google For Censoring Websites in China

(Clearwisdom.net) On January 26, 2006 AP reporter Christopher Bodeen filed a report from Shanghai, China describing mounting criticism of internet giant Google's decision to censor websites and information pertaining to human rights and other topics which the communist regime deems "sensitive."

Mr Bodeen writes:

"Within minutes of the launch of the new site -- which bears China's Web suffix, ".cn" -- searches for the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement showed that scores of sites were omitted and users were directed to articles condemning the group posted on Chinese government Web sites."

It was noted that searches for other sensitive subjects such as "Taiwan independence," "democracy" and "human rights" yielded similar results.

The author continues:

"In most such cases, only official Chinese government sites or those with a ".cn" suffix were included.

"Google, which has as its motto "Don't Be Evil," says the new site aims to make its search engine more accessible in China, thereby expanding access to information.

"Yet the move has been criticized by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, based in Paris. The group also has chided Yahoo Inc. and Microsoft Corp.'s MSN.com for submitting to China's censorship regime.

"'When a search engine collaborates with the government like this, it makes it much easier for the Chinese government to control what is being said on the Internet,' said Julien Pain, head of the group's Internet desk."