Dear all,
This debate ,which is part of the broader concerns regarding privacy issues, has a number of interesting ramifications for issues that are pertinent to our course. It vividly illustrates differences in legal environments and cultural beliefs around the world and the challenges they pose for multinational companies operating in multiple countries.
I invite your thoughts and comments regarding the appropriate response of Google, as well as other US Internet companies likely to be affected by these issues, to these developments.
Here are links to two good articles on this issue that you may want to read to inform your thinking, but discussions abound everywhere.
http://www.economist.com/news/business/21602239-european-court-justice-forces-google-remove-links-some-personal-information-cut
Warm regards
Prof Nachum
Privacy setting regarding web browsing always reminds me of the modern China society. Although the country itself has developed so dramatically trying to catch up the rest of the developing countries, the people still have a difficult time to adjust themselves to the modern society. For instance, the government demanded Chinese not to walking around with their pajamas on during the Olympic 2008. For most Chinese people at that time, they had no concept of why it was wrong to wear pajamas to the grocery stores or to other places. I think web-browsing/ search engine issues are really similar to the current Chinese issue. Even though we have been using it daily, it is still really new to us. People are still really naïve about how to use it; what it is right and what it is wrong. I am not saying that Search Engine Companies should not be responsible for our privacy records; however, we as users should be really careful about leaving messages to the world; knowing that every actions we take have consequences. Until we figure out the norms and develop the actual common senses how to properly use Internet, we unfortunately require the law to help us moving forward.
Thank you Yili. this is an excellent comment that helps us see the broader validity of this issue.
it is also very timely, when China significantly increasing its censorship during the last few days and its blockage of US internet companies in anticipation of the 25th anniversary of Tiananmen Square. you can read more on this in this NTY article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/03/business/chinas-battle-against-google-heats-up.html?emc=edit_th_20140603&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=69365276&_r=0
Privacy is definitely an important topic that can impact businesses. It is especially sensitive in certain countries depending on their culture. I found a similar article which discusses privacy being breached. Vodafone network has shared that 6 countries have the direct access to phone calls and messages. These countries have laws that give them the right to access any networks. This can create conflict between telecommunication companies and the country they are trying to invest in.
http://money.cnn.com/2014/06/06/technology/vodafone-phone-tapping/index.html