Hacker News Reader

Comment by pteredactyl | Hacker News Reader

I don't follow. If Google helps entities that censor, they censor, or at least are complicit in some way.

Further, there's the whole 'national security' angle. Whether real or imagined, some people don't like the idea of US entities helping foreign entities gain a competitive advantage.

Not sure how pointing to a feigned moral superiority of 'those who stick their noses up' helps your argument either.

View on HN

In this comment, you're expressing concern that Google would be implicated by participating in the censorship, but you're not expressing any concern for the welfare of the 1.6B Chinese who would gain access to Google.

I'm not OP but I'd consider that a very 'sticking your nose up' take on the situation. It seems to consider westerners' self-image as more important than Chinese access.

Your argument assumes Chinese citizens using Google is somehow better for them than Baidu. I have no idea. But I will not make the claim to know what's best for 1.6B, as you do.

But to go down that road, I'd argue it's worse for the citizens. As others here have pointed out. Google's software enables advanced citizen tracking for the Communist Party of China.

Prove me wrong though. Show me how Google China is better for 1.6B Chinese.

More options better than fewer options.

Especially for English language search.

Yes as someone who has used Baidu, I am making the argument that using Google is better than using Baidu, at least Baidu as it exists today. It's possible that once Google enters China, Baidu would get better. But we won't find out now.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com