"Don't Be Evil"

When reading about Yahoo!’s history in Europe and China, I have to admit that my first reaction was surprise. I had no idea Yahoo! had such jurisdictional conflicts with foreign nations. Of course, the topic is much more familiar today as a result of Google’s dealings with China. Recently, the search giant decided to no longer comply with China’s strict censorship policies. In effect, Google was put in the exact same position as Yahoo! Chinese users are directed to Google’s Hong Kong site which exists with looser restrictions as a result of the city’s semi-autonomy. Before people cheer Google’s “noble” stand against tyranny in the face of lost profits, I think it’s important to consider what Google was doing. I remembered an article several years ago which featured images of Google’s “Image Search,” one censored by the Chinese government, the other a regular, unrestricted search. When entering the term “Tiananmen Square,” the site of the slaughter of hundreds of protesters by the tyrannical state several decades ago, one will find two completely different results. From the American portal, you will find images of tanks rolling into the square and protesters assembled with a giant, makeshift model of the Statue of Liberty. From an American perspective, this moment was a glorious one, people risking their lives for their own freedom. This moment, unfortunately, is not remembered on the Chinese portal. The images are noticeably absent from Google’s Chinese “Image Search.” So, again, before we laud Google’s noble stand for liberty and freedom – it’s a little late. I’m going to have to agree with Steve Jobs on this one. Google’s “don’t be evil” mantra is “bullsh*t.”

At least Yahoo! didn’t hold itself up as a “non-evil” entity (like Google) when it turned that poor Chinese man into Party authorities for daring to breathe the word “liberty.” I do think it’s ridiculous that Yahoo! is held accountable to French law for simply providing the platform by which Nazi paraphernalia can be sold. Why not hold the seller accountable for sending illegal goods to a foreign nation? I think Yahoo!’s argument is valid: It simply cannot comply with the strict laws and regulations of all 150+ nation states in which it operates. Expecting a company like Yahoo! or Google to comply in that manner is a denial of the fundamental nature of the Internet. The Internet exists outside of transnational borders and no hissy-fit by the obscure dictator of Djbouti is going to change that. Knowing where an IP address originates from is not sufficient in “policing” the online activity of the billions of Internet users. However, companies like Google and Yahoo! have grown up in the United States and have benefitted from the economic liberty provided by this country. We, in effect, made it possible for Google and Yahoo! to exist and thrive. So when we see moments where the (now) global corporations are faced with jurisdictional dilemmas, it is important that we as consumers take a closer look. These companies thrive and produce wealth for their investors as a result of our nation's stability and freedom. It is shocking then to hear that a company which has benefited first hand from these conditions would go ahead and facilitate their demise in another part of the globe. I don't think it's unreasonable for us to start asking these “American” companies a question: Whose side are you on?