Are Web Firms Giving in to China?

Carl Bialik from the WSJ writes "Google and other Internet companies are sending executives to Capitol Hill for a hearing next week seeking to answer the question: Are U.S. companies giving in to China's censorship demands too easily? Chris Smith, New Jersey Republican and chairman of the House human-rights subcommittee that is holding the hearing, tells the Wall Street Journal, 'I was asked the question the other day, do U.S. corporations have the obligation to promote democracy? That's the wrong question. It would be great if they would promote democracy. But they do have a moral imperative and a duty not to promote dictatorship.' The WSJ notes an irony: Google is fighting for 'Internet freedom' in the U.S., by resisting the Justice Department's request for information on user searches."

Comments

I hate people some times

[GmAz]

Get over it people! We are not China nor do we have any power to tell China what to do. If they want the censor the internet from their people, so be it. Let their people decide when enough is enough. Man, sometimes I wish freedom of speech didn't exist so morons like you would quit thinking everyone if the world needs to change to be more like the US.

Promoting Democracy

[oob]

As for our government, it's ironic that we sacrifice our troops for democracy

It never ceases to amaze me that the American people are deluded enough to believe that their government actually contributes to freedom and democracy worldwide. You sacrifice your troops for democracy like the Germans liberated the Sudentenland.