Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Twitter Will Censor Certain Tweets In Certain Countries

readwriteweb.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

1–10 of 69 posts

Re: Twitter Will Censor Certain Tweets In Certain Countries

#8

Post by Karunamon »

dustineichler wrote: post #3

This is weird. Freedom shouldn't be the price you pay to operate in any country. Is it passe to push American ideals abroad.

No, but when it comes down to "Censor stuff when asked" or "Don't bother setting up shop at all", any rational person would take option #1.

So let's see, you're Google, and you want to set up your search engine in China.

"Not so fast" says the local big cheeses. "You have to censor search results in compliance with laws X Y and Z. If you do not, your employees will be jailed and you will be shut down."

As a Chinese citizen, which is the best result?

Let's do a very simple payoff matrix.

Outcome A: Google avoids China altogether

Outcome B: Google opens in China and complies with the law

Outcome C: Google opens in China and does not comply with the law

      Google     Chinese Citizen
 A      0               0
 B      1               1
 C      -1              0
Only option B leaves all parties better than they started out.

Re: Twitter Will Censor Certain Tweets In Certain Countries

#9

Post by bilbo0s »

laconian wrote: post #4

Seems like a shortsighted move, given the perception in developed Western countries that Twitter is a tool for fomenting freedom.

I think many of these companies are looking at the very real possibility that being relegated to being a 'Western Country Company' may not be the best financial strategy long term.

That said...Twitter is too late. I don't think many Chinese young people will switch at this point. They have already missed the boat on micro blogging in China, they should at least keep their ideals...now they will keep their ideals and won't get the Chinese market anyway.

Although when I consider the matter more fully...the world is bigger than China. Some of those other nations may be important markets going forward...and they may have some censorship laws Twitter would have to deal with. Indonesia will probably be the second most important nation in Asia in the future, and I think Twitter hasn't lost yet in places like that. And Indonesia probably has things you can and cannot say.

Re: Twitter Will Censor Certain Tweets In Certain Countries

#10

Post by ppod »

Karunamon wrote: post #8
dustineichler wrote: post #3

This is weird. Freedom shouldn't be the price you pay to operate in any country. Is it passe to push American ideals abroad.

No, but when it comes down to "Censor stuff when asked" or "Don't bother setting up shop at all", any rational person would take option #1. So let's see, you're Google, and you want to set up your search engine in China. "Not so fast" says the local big cheeses. "You have to censor search results in compliance with laws X Y and Z. If you do not, your employees will be jailed and you will be shut down." As a Chinese c…

I see your point, but it's a little simplistic. By opening and complying with the law you are to a certain extent validating or condoning that law. By agreeing to abide by China's rules Google to some extent takes pressure off the Chinese government.
Post reply on HN