The power and principle of Wikipedia
Google caved, but Wikipedia is standing up to the forces of totalitarianism, "[defying] the Chinese government by refusing to bow to censorship of politically sensitive entries".
Of course, Google and Wikipedia aren't the same thing. The one has shareholders, a share price, and market competitiveness to keep in mind. The other is, well, unbridled internet democracy, an amazingly successful experiment in online communication and content.
I still contend that Google, which perhaps can't afford to take uniformly principled stands, did the right thing and that, however controversial, its censored presence in China may yet be the thin end of a wedge that is essential to opening up that country to alternatives to its brutal totalitarianism. And yet I credit Wikipedia for remaining true to itself.
One wonders which approach will prove the more successful in China, that is, which online power will end up doing the most to liberate China from its censorious oppression.
Perhaps -- and hopefully -- the Chinese people will benefit from both in their own way.
Of course, Google and Wikipedia aren't the same thing. The one has shareholders, a share price, and market competitiveness to keep in mind. The other is, well, unbridled internet democracy, an amazingly successful experiment in online communication and content.
I still contend that Google, which perhaps can't afford to take uniformly principled stands, did the right thing and that, however controversial, its censored presence in China may yet be the thin end of a wedge that is essential to opening up that country to alternatives to its brutal totalitarianism. And yet I credit Wikipedia for remaining true to itself.
One wonders which approach will prove the more successful in China, that is, which online power will end up doing the most to liberate China from its censorious oppression.
Perhaps -- and hopefully -- the Chinese people will benefit from both in their own way.
posted by Michael J.W. Stickings at
6:47 AM
2 Comments:
Googles decision was partly technical. Since ISP's in China block access to certain sites, it seems silly that Google should return lots of links that you then cannot browse.
By
Anonymous, at 1:36 AM
...well at least when one can see that there is more than one can look at, one might start asking questions. Which is always a good beginning.
By
Urs Luescher, at 9:21 AM
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