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Google Begins Country-Specific Blog Censorship

Posted by samzenpus on from the not-for-your-eyes dept.

bonch writes "Google will begin redirecting blogs to country-specific URLs. Blog visitors will be redirected to a URL specific to their location, with content subject to their country's censorship laws. A support post on Blogger explains the change: 'Over the coming weeks you might notice that the URL of a blog you're reading has been redirected to a country-code top level domain, or "ccTLD." For example, if you're in Australia and viewing [blogname].blogspot.com, you might be redirected to [blogname].blogspot.com.au. A ccTLD, when it appears, corresponds with the country of the reader's current location.'"

6 of 250 comments (clear)

  1. I wonder what is being censored in the USA? by RocketRabbit · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I wonder what Google is censoring in the USA? Could be that they have strict orders to keep whatever it is secret, so nobody will even know about it.

    And before anybody jumps down my throat and vaporishly wails "Oh but that COULDN'T happen in AMERICA!" please direct your attention to this post : http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2011/9/30/215-section-act-patriot/ and senator Wyden's recent comments on secret interpretations of the Patriot act.

    We are really down the rabbit hole here folks.

  2. Re:Blogger only - it seems by msobkow · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Google is doing the blocking so they can do business in the nations requesting the block.

    Despite American arrogance, all companies are required to abide by the laws of the customer's nation if they do business there.

    You can't blame Google for following the rules! Sorry, but that's just the FACTS OF LIFE.

    --
    I do not fail; I succeed at finding out what does not work.
  3. Re:Blogger only - it seems by Anthony+Mouse · · Score: 4, Interesting

    You can't blame Google for following the rules!

    Sure you can. The Nuremberg defense is not a defense.

    Personally, I think the US needs an antitrust exemption for companies who want to collude strictly for the purpose of refusing to comply with, or otherwise opposing, foreign legislation that would violate the US First Amendment.

  4. Re:Blogger only - it seems by Grishnakh · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What about US legislation that would violate the US First Amendment?

  5. Re:So much for... by CharlyFoxtrot · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The Ministry of Search - Googleplex in leetspeak - was startlingly different from any other object in sight. It was an enormous outstretched structure of glittering steel and glass. From where Winston stood it was just possible to read, picked out on its white face in elegant lettering, the three slogans of the Corporation:

        CLOSED IS OPEN
        CENSORSHIP IS FREEDOM
        SURVEILLANCE IS PRIVACY

    --
    If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
  6. Re:Blogger only - it seems by Wandering+Idiot · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm as concerned with the US slipping towards totalitarianism as the next guy, but for the love of god please shut the fuck up with the stupid FEMA meme.