COLUMN: Google’s understandable mistake
By John Irwin on September 17, 2012 7:45 am / 3 comments
Violent protests erupted around the Middle East and northern Africa last week over a bizarre, inflammatory movie trailer posted on YouTube that portrays Islam as a fraud and Muhammad as a pedophile.
The protests have spread to 20 countries in the region and have left at least 14 people dead, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. Stevens was killed as protesters (or, as Department of Defense officials suspect, terrorists masquerading as protesters) armed with rocket-propelled grenades set fire to the U.S. consulate in Benghazi.
The violence has left an already unstable region on edge and American relations with some Middle Eastern states in trouble. U.S. officials warned of continued anti-American protests throughout the region all week.
In response, Google, which owns YouTube, blocked access to the movie trailer in Egypt and Libya. Google acted on its own power, denying a White House request to remove the video from the website by saying it does not violate its terms of service.
“This video — which is widely available on the web — is clearly within our guidelines and so will stay on YouTube,” the company said in a statement. “However, given the very difficult situation in Libya and Egypt we have temporarily restricted access in both countries.”
That is a mistake.
While Google’s decision to side with the safety of innocent people over an abstract, pro-free speech ideal is completely understandable, the decision could have negative ramifications in the long run.
Think about it: Google, acting on its own after rejecting the White House’s request and not receiving any pressure from Libyan or Egyptian officials, is deciding on its own what is in the best interests of the Libyan and Egyptian people.
This is different than Google abiding by strict Chinese censorship regulations or following certain American laws. This is Google essentially picking and choosing what is best for others in the region.
As a business protected under the First Amendment, Google has the right to do that, of course. But ironically, this move may undermine freedom of speech on the Internet in the future.
The Arab Spring would have never occurred if not for freedom of information online. Once impossible to imagine, oppressive regimes were overthrown in the region as videos and news were spread online. In the process, unfortunately, many died and livelihoods were destroyed.
Inevitably, uprisings will occur again. When they do, should Google censor videos and search content in the name of safety? The precedent is now there.
As the Internet continues to grow in importance worldwide, Google, arguably the most important name on the web, must deeply commit itself to freedom of speech and the unrestricted spread of information. If it and other tech giants fail to do so, oppression will be able to thrive in the Information Age.
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3 Comments
First off the title of this article is different in the printed edition, in the printed edition the title is ” Google’s big mistake”. Personally I like the online title better, I think it fits the feel of the article better.
Second I agree, conforming to a countries specific laws is one thing but to voluntarily restrict content is another. This situation is comparable to the free speech the KKK has, even though they are preaching hate they still have the right to do this. Who is Google to decided what speech is allowed and what isn’t.
The video had nothing to do with the 4 assassinations and the worldwide eruptions of violence by Muslims.
On 9-11-01, you didn’t see the non-Muslims in America burning down Muslim country embassies in Washington! Muslims kill 3000 of us. But, we didn’t take it out on muslim ambassadors in this country. We’re civil.
The Barack Hussein Obama Administration has been pampering the muslims since Inauguration Day in 2009. He’s apologized to them for America’s past. The Muslims know he’s weak.
Look at history. Jimmy Carter was the last weak US President. In 1979, Iran kidnapped about 52 Americans and held them for about 444 days. Carter should have bombed Iran back to the Stone Age but he didn’t. Remember, how the hostages were released? They were released just minutes before the great strong Ronald Wilson Reagan was inaugurated. Iran wasn’t stupid. They knew Reagan would bomb them as soon as he was sworn into office.
That’s strength!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Obama was warned days before this happened by the Libyan Government. But, Barack was fund-raising, playing golf, campaigning……ignoring the Intel warnings. In fact, he hardly ever attends an Intel meeting like George W. Bush did. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was off in New Zealand or somewhere.
Let’s compare CMU/Mt. Pleasant and Obama. Local officials here knew the MSU game would bring in more people so more police and security were present. That makes sense! Wouldn’t you think that when you know the anniversary of 9-11-01 is around the corner, that you would increase security in our embassies, especially in Muslim countries? Why didn’t the Marines at the embassy in Cairo be allowed to have ammo in their guns? That’s common sense. But, Obama and Mrs. Clinton don’t have common sense. They both need to be fired for incompetence!
THen, we get hit!!! 4 Americans assassinated. So, Obama and Clinton were caught with their pants down. So, what’s their excuse? Some stupid movie on Google. And, the dumb mainstream media is still reporting that today in their stories. The dumb national media has bought Obama’s propaganda.
Obama now wants to take away our first amendment rights to save his job and reputation. Obama, who said his muslim upbringing overseas would help him deal with Muslim countries, was wrong. He’s weak. Bush didn’t fool around with the Muslims after 9-11. He went after them in Iraq and Afghanistan. He opened Club Gitmo to hold murderous Muslims!
So, in Obama’s mind……………..if any American says anything negative about the Muslims, it gives them the right to assasinate our Ambassadors and Marines, etc.
That could be commedian Jeff Dunham who has a Muslim dummy puppet. That could be any liberal college professor who brings in that nut pastor who doesn’t like Islam. That could trigger worldwide violence. That’s what Obama, Clinton and the liberal, mainstream media are saying.
You have the muslim country Iran getting the Nuke ready to wipe out Israel. The Israel Prime Minister is begging for a meeting with Obama. Obama says he isn’t giving up his appearance on the David Letterman Show to make time for the Prime Minister. That’s disgraceful. Obama needs to be fired in November. We can’t have Israel destroyed by that little, hateful Iran dictator.
That’s your new first amendment rights, per Barack Hussein Obama! You no longer have freedom of speech!
The Muslim faithful are locusts. Mindless destructive Locust.