Freedom_of_Speech

Freedom of Speech in Communism The internet has revolutionized the way the world communicates with each other and in America it has let the individual American exercise their rights of freedom of speech and press more than ever before. If a controversial event happens in the world, an American can post whatever they would like to say about the topic freely and without fear of it being blocked or taken off the internet. Along with the invention of the internet there have been a few select web sites that enable a user to rapidly search the entire web to find what he or she has particularly searched for. Google and Microsoft are two of the most successful and famous for their ability to help a user find things on the internet. Recently, the Chinese government has been accused of cyber-attacks that have censored post that have been made by human rights activist in China that portray their views or thoughts about the Chinese government through Google’s and Microsoft’s search engines. These “attacks” on the censorship of the internet in China are not an unusual event that has been occurring. Google’s CEO Elisa Massimino decided that Google will not support the oppressions of the Chinese government when she stated the following, “Google's decision to stop cooperating with China's censorship policies breaks the spell of business as usual for companies that have acquiesced in China's demands to restrict access on the Internet.”(Brenda Soder) Elissa made it clear that if China persist on the path of suppression of freedom of speech that Google will not be a part of it. If Google does eventually remove their search engine from China it will enable Microsoft and other smaller internet companies to take their pieces of the pie that Google is going to leave behind. To get support from both Microsoft and Yahoo on the idea of the Chinese Government from censoring search engine results Google asked, “Both Yahoo and Microsoft to comment on whether they plan to change policy…” (Ian Fried) So if Google does pull out of China, Microsoft and Yahoo will have to decide to join Google or stay in China and face the criticisms of supporting the Chinese government with suppressing the right of freedom of speech. In response to Google’s comment on Chinese internet censorship Microsoft made a few new policies that will only remove content from there websites when it, “ receives a legally binding notice from the government indicating that the material violates local laws”(Ian Fried Microsoft clarifies) and also “ensure that users know why the content was blocked.”(Ian Fried Microsoft clarifies) Since the local laws in China are based on a Communistic Government, does that mean Microsoft supports these local communist laws' Later on in an interview with CNBC, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer stated Microsoft’s stance on the issue “We have been quite clear that we are going to operate in China, (and) we’re going to abide by the law,” (Tom Kratiz) So unlike Google, Microsoft is going to remain in China and abide by their laws that do not let the citizens have the same right as Americans. American’s have fought for their right of freedom of speech and press. Google and Microsoft were both established and became successful in a country that thrives off of democracy and the rights of the individual American. Seeing that “China has the world’s largest internet population”,(Tania Branigan) are companies like Microsoft going to turn their back to what America stands for just for an chance to get ahead of their opponent' Both of these companies now are faced with big decisions that will affect their business in years to come. Work Cited 1. Branigan, Tania. “ Google to end censorship in China over cyber attacks.” Guardian. 13 January 2010. The Guardian. 30 January 2010< http://www.guardian.co.uk/technolog y/2010/12/google-china-ends-censorship> 2.Fried, Ina . “Microsoft clarifies policy on censoring blogs.” CNET.31 January 2006. CNET News. 30 January 2010 < http://news.cnet.com/Microsoft-clarifies-policy-on- censoring- blogs/2100-1028_3-6033343.html> 3. Fried, Ina. “ Microsoft, Yahoo to follow Google’s lead in China'” CNET. 12 January 2010. CNET News. 30 January 2010< http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10433609- 56.html> 4. Krazit, Tom. “ Microsoft’s Ballmer: We’re staying in China.” CNET. 14 January 2010. CNET News. 30 January 2010< http://news.cnet.com/microsoft-news/'keyword=China> 5. Soder, Brenda. “ Google Decision Demonstrates Need for Heightened U.S. Vigilance.” Human Rights First. 13 January 2010. Human Rights First. 30 January 2010< http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/media/usls/2010/alert/563/index.htm>