The slippery slope? The slippery slope?

Google co-founder Sergey Brin defends the deal:

We ultimately made a difficult decision, but we felt that by participating there, and making our services more available, even if not to the 100 percent that we ideally would like, that it will be better for Chinese Web users, because ultimately they would get more information, though not quite all of it.
I met the guy at Brainstorm, I think his name’s Xiao. Just over the years I’ve been interested in this question, and talked to three or four different people in China. My point of view really did change. And don’t forget that I was born in the Soviet Union and my early childhood was spent there, so I’m very sensitive to this kind of issue. It wasn’t easy. But I gradually grew comfortable, and I think we’re doing the right thing.

I am sympathetic to this point of view, although organizations which take this road deserve public scrutiny to make sure they don’t become complacent. It is possible to maintain one’s integrity while trying to influence oppressive policies by engaging rather than boycotting. But it ain’t easy.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin defends the deal:

We ultimately made a difficult decision, but we felt that by participating there, and making our services more available, even if not to the 100 percent that we ideally would like, that it will be better for Chinese Web users, because ultimately they would get more information, though not quite all of it.
I met the guy at Brainstorm, I think his name’s Xiao. Just over the years I’ve been interested in this question, and talked to three or four different people in China. My point of view really did change. And don’t forget that I was born in the Soviet Union and my early childhood was spent there, so I’m very sensitive to this kind of issue. It wasn’t easy. But I gradually grew comfortable, and I think we’re doing the right thing.

I am sympathetic to this point of view, although organizations which take this road deserve public scrutiny to make sure they don’t become complacent. It is possible to maintain one’s integrity while trying to influence oppressive policies by engaging rather than boycotting. But it ain’t easy.