Google in China

A lot of bloggers are howling mad at Google for agreeing to open a version of its system for China that includes restrictions on content consistent with Communist leadership's demands. Instapundit has some links to some examples. In principle, I understand this anger. I certainly believe in the free exchange of ideas and information and oppose any type of government mandated censorship. As an American, I take these freedoms for granted and recognize their intrinsic value.

But what is Google to say to the people of China? Your government won't allow free access to all information, so we will give you no information? Values are important, but we also live in a flawed world. Sometimes we have to accept an imperfect solution because there is no perfect solution. Giving access to some information is better than having access to no information. As Google's statement says,

Filtering our search results clearly compromises our mission. Failing to offer Google search at all to a fifth of the world's population, however, does so far more severely. Whether our critics agree with our decision or not, due to the severe quality problems faced by users trying to access Google.com from within China, this is precisely the choice we believe we faced. By launching Google.cn and making a major ongoing investment in people and infrastructure within China, we intend to change that.

Is this really all that different from the US trade policy with the PRC, whereby our nation does business with the Communists? And what have been the results of that trade? A China that is moving--slowly, certainly--away from Communism and gradually adopting more of a market economy, with a growing middle class. China is becoming a valued friend in Asia, particularly in dealing with North Korea.

Compromise is dangerous. Once one starts compromising, it's easy to continue and harder to hold to principles. This nation does not have a great history in that area, from treating with dictators and tyrants like Saddam Hussein when it suited our policies to not responding adequately to China's clampdown on dissent at the Square. But holding steadfastly to an idealistic, black and white view of the world is just as dangerous.