February 5, 2006

It could be a sign of the times; in an age of lies and hypocrisy Google's business arrangement with the repressive regime in China may be proving the tipping point for a fed up and frustrated citizenry. Once chastised for its human rights abuse at home and in its annexed territories, China's government seems to have won the waiting game, as both governments and corporations have decided to turn a blind-eye to the gross violations to decency and decorum that is business as usual in the People's Republic.

Google, with its unofficial motto: 'Don't be Evil,' has agreed to "filter" internet content, and provide China's government with useful suggestions on the further curtailing of access to information in return for a foothold in the second largest on-line market in the world is now a lightning rod, bearing the brunt of outraged reaction from activists.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports, the hapless Mr. Lee, appearing at Berkeley to sing the merits of Google and the opportunities the company's new venture offered Chinese speaking students, faced a chanting chorus of "Shame" and "Don't be evil" as he tried to discuss his personal philosophy of corporate leadership. As much as he wanted to avoid the brewing backlash against the company's ethically challenged decision to do as the others do and play ball by China's rules, the crowd would not let him evade the issue.

Lee lamely responded to the crowd, saying Google had to "obey" China's laws to do business in the country, even if that meant nixing such word searches as "Tibet independence," "Falun Gong," "Tiananmen Square," and "democracy,"

before ducking out to dodge picketers proclaiming Kai Fu Lee, "Kaifu Leevil."

Of the Google move, Alma David, of Students for a Free Tibet said, "We see a company selling out its values for a profit. Its 'don't be evil' just seems like a bad joke." adding; "We hope to get the message to Kai-Fu Lee that we won't stand for censorship."

Whether Tibet, the ongoing repression of the Falun Gong, disastrous environmental policy, or its "Big Brother" governance of the most populace nation on the planet, the high profile Google has unwittingly walked into a political mine field that promises to trigger broader protests, putting China's behavior under renewed international scrutiny.

For Google, it has so far meant a dive in both their public image and their stock value.