[Thoughts] Don’t forget to obey the law, stupid
The story of Google/China spat over Internet censorship doesn’t seem to go end any time soon, even though the ending that Google will get out of the Great Wall eventually seems inevitable. But a sound “After Google dustup, should the US ban Chinese computers?” is just too ridiculous and stupid to me. Yes, not only is it going too far, but it’s also going too stupid, especially it’s from an international trade lawyer. Just couldn’t believe it.
Don’t get me wrong. I hate the Internet being censored and manipulated. I admire what Google did in this case. I respect their effort and courage trying to fix things that don’t seem right to them. I really do. It’s a lot better than those who always complain, protest, but never did a thing in action.
But, there is a thing called law that most of people seem to forget in this story. Having a censorship on Internet is written in China law, which obviously you have to obey if you want to do business in China’s soil. Whether or not it’s right, if it’s in law you will have to obey it, no matter what.
When I moved to my complex, one thing that is prohibited in the strata bylaws is that no clothes can be hang on the patio or at any public space. That just doesn’t sound right to a lot of Chinese like me because we simply want to have our clothes to enjoy the sun just like we do and we don’t see any reason why they can’t. However, rule is rule. I either obey, or choose to leave and live in a place that doesn’t have such “stupid” rule. It’s just real simple like that.
And from what I can see, that’s exactly what Google is doing. They first try to obey the local law but now they feel like enough and can’t stand for it any more, so they choose to leave. Simple and right.
