Uncensored Google.com serves 99% of China queries

When Google rolled out google.cn, the censored and localized version of Google to the Chinese market, Google insisted that they had no other choice. Google argued that the "user experience" was awful and Google had no choice but to fix it:

Google users in China today struggle with a service that, to be blunt, isn't very good. Google.com appears to be down around 10% of the time. Even when users can reach it, the website is slow, and sometimes produces results that when clicked on, stall out the user's browser. Our Google News service is never available; Google Images is accessible only half the time. At Google we work hard to create a great experience for our users, and the level of service we've been able to provide in China is not something we're proud of.

In short, google.cn was to become the fast and easy search engine in China, and users would flock to it because the alternative was so terrible.

But in yesterday's stockholder meeting, Sergey Brin said that hasn't happened, at least not yet. In a spirited response to a censorship challenge by Tony Cruz of Amnesty International, Brin noted that usage of google.cn is just a fraction of one percent of Google searches in China -- the uncensored google.com is still used for more than 99% of all Google searches.

Brin was trying to make the point that Google hadn't really sold out, and traded their souls for gobs of cash. Google's not profiting from active censorship of political expression, at least not yet.

Maybe word just hasn't gotten out yet that Google has a faster (though lobotomized) search. Or are Chinese citizens are willing to put up with getting blocked 1 time in ten, and enduring the latency of google.com, because they trust it more?

Did Google Hire Stratfor for Counterprotest Work?

Stats for dontbeevil and protestgoogle are seeing more than passing interest from a user at Stratfor. Stratfor's website says they specialize in "custom intelligence services," and their IP address (207.59.83.122) has downloaded just about every page I have on censorship, including the virtual protest and information on Google's stockholders' meeting this coming Thursday.

While it could be that this is just a curious user, the pattern of activity suggests there's something more. I can see that the user is searching my full name (which I've published before, but haven't made terribly easy to find), along with very specific protest-related searches.

As a Google shareholder, I sure hope Google's not wasting cash on Stratfor consulting to get intelligence on what I'm doing. There are no secrets, all you have to do is ask - my email all over the page, and here it is again in case it's too hard to find: Censorship.Is.Evil@gmail.com.

And if Google is paying big bucks for Stratfor consulting, I sure hope they're getting more than a few amateurish Google searches for their money. Heck, since I use Google services like Blogger, Gmail, and Search History, Google has far more info on me than Stratfor does. And Stratfor is finding me through some very newbie searches:

[google "mountain view" protest]
[google shareholder meeting may 11 protest]
[google censorship]
And a malformed query on my name

If Stratfor knew what they were doing, they might try a site search, or go after those RSF, Amnesty and Falun Gong guys.

No secrets here, and no security threat either. Just a friend and Google shareholder who's deeply disappointed that Google has rationalized away a big part of their Don't Be Evil ethic, tarnishing the Google brand in the process.

Google, don't spend your cash on high-priced corporate "intelligence," but spend it instead building great products -- products that raise your users' IQ, not products that censor the most important information and repress legitimate human expression.

If you wanna know, just ask.

Here's what Stratfor does:

Public Policy Intelligence: Confidential service designed to assist companies and associations with strategic planning and risk management. Clients are able to actively prepare for future public policy developments relating to their interests, at home or abroad, in a wide range of industries, including energy, oil and gas, mining and minerals, forest products, defense, financial services, pharmaceuticals, and technology.

Protective Intelligence: A comprehensive management solution to individual and corporate security concerns. From proprietary counter surveillance and protection methodology to proactive and preventive approaches, clients are able to develop and implement a robust security strategy to address and minimize risk.

[crossposted from www.dontbeevil.com]

Google virtual protest

View a gallery of protest signs to draw attention to Google's censorship of political thought, and suggest your own messages in six words or less.

Invitation to May 11 Stockholders' Meeting

You're invited to Google's annual stockholders' meeting on May 11, 2006. You can't go inside unless you can show that you own shares, but you could certainly ensure that shareholders hear your voice on their way to and from the meeting.

From Google's proxy statement:

To our Stockholders:

We are pleased to invite you to attend Google’s Annual Stockholders Meeting to be held on Thursday, May 11, 2006 at 2 p.m., local time, at Google’s corporate headquarters located at:

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, California
(650) 253-0000

Check-in begins at 12:00 p.m.
Meeting begins at 2:00 p.m.

The meeting will be held on our campus, but we have absolutely no parking space available there. Instead, we will be shuttling stockholders between the parking lot at the Shoreline Amphitheatre and our headquarters.

Directions to Shoreline Amphitheatre:

From either San Jose or San Francisco: Follow Route 101 to the Rengstorff/Amphitheatre Parkway exit. Follow the signs to the Amphitheatre (cross back over 101 if you are coming from the north/just stay right if you are coming from the south). Go through the signal at Charleston Road and continue on Amphitheatre Parkway. You will pass Google on your right. Turn left at Bill Graham Parkway and follow the signs to Lot C.

Here are some ideas for protest signs.

Google censored

Ways to influence Google

How can concerned citizens, shareholders and users communicate their displeasure to Google about their decision to aggressively censor results in China? ProtestGoogle will update this post periodically with more ideas on how to get involved.

1. Boycott AdSense - it will be financially imperceptible to Google, but may add a little gravitas to your voice
2. Sign the open letter
3. Send an email
4. Write your own letter - old fashioned pen and paper can be harder to ignore than on online petition - Sergey Brin, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043
   
5. Influence shareholders - this isn't just about ethics vs. the profit motive, shareholders care A LOT about Google's image and brand
6. Shame Google employees - many Google employees don't support this action, let them know we hold them accountable if they don't speak out; make 'em hear you when they drive into the parking lot
   
7. Write a letter to the editor - get this issue out before the general public; also, WSJ, NYT, LAT
   
8. Write your representative - our goal isn't more legislation or government intrusion, but the opinion of lawmakers is important to Google as it tries to get access to more content and bust up the chokehold of big media and big telecom
9. Shoot a viral video
10. Design a protest logo
11. Use an uncensored search engine
12. Demonstrate on campus
13. Protest at home
    
14. Develop a parody site
15. Sell t-shirts
16. Write your own evil scale
17. Protest at Google offices around the world
18. Protest Michael Moore style, and bring a TV to give voice to the victims
19. Isn't there a shareholders' meeting coming up?
20. Join the virtual protest
    

Feel free to post ideas here, or email to Censorship.Is.Evil@gmail.com.

Protest Google FAQ

Welcome to the ProtestGoogle site.

This site was created to help organize protests about Google's compromise of its Don't Be Evil ethic. By censoring its search results in China, Google has struck a painful blow against human rights. And in so doing, Google has damaged its own image, brand and leadership potential.

This is NOT a site for people who hate Google. If that's what you're looking for, start your own site or try here.

Instead, this is a site for people who LOVE Google, but are disappointed in the company's recent actions.

We are citizens, shareholders and Google users who used to believe that Google could make a difference in the world, not just go with the flow. We are concerned that by compromising its principles, Google may become an instrument of evil rather than a model of a new way to do well by doing good.

We believe that Google has already changed the world for the better, largely by adhering closely to its values even when doing so meant sacrificing short-term profits. This long-term view and value-conscious approach has served Google well, and has become its competitive advantage. Google's recent actions are frightening, not only for China, but for Google users worldwide.

More information will be posted in coming days about ways you can get involved in communicating your opinions on Google's actions.

Posts will be mirrored to the ProtestGoogle group, which allows you to subscribe to email updates. If you'd rather not join a public forum, email me directly at the address below.

Feel free to leave comments with creative protest ideas on this site. Ideas that are legal and have the potential for high impact -- likely to gain media or shareholder attention -- will be moderated and mirrored to the email list.

Organizing an effective protest requires a lot of hard work, and we'll need volunteers. If you care deeply about this and are willing to join in the hard work of organizing effective protest actions, please contact me privately at Censorship.Is.Evil@gmail.com.