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A Problem in the Case Study
One of the problems evident in this case study is the conflict between Chinese government and Google over censorship of content displayed on the internet. There is specific information that the government of China considers harmful and feels that it should be censored. The information is not necessarily harmful but the issue is that china is known for human rights violations. However, Google does not agree with china and feels that the information availed on the internet should not be censored.
Google establishment in China faced a challenge because the company had to make some compromises in order to start its services. If the company did not establish Google in China, this was compromise on its mission of providing internet services everywhere. Its mission requires it to offer internet services to its users in all countries. On the other hand, if the company provided its services in China, this would have been a compromise on its mission by complying with Chinese laws that called for internet censorship (Economist 1).
Starting Google in China was a wise decision but the requirement by Chinese laws to censor internet use was the problem. The move to start Google in China raised many questions because Google was seen to be either supporting censorship by agreeing with the Chinese laws or being used as a government tool. Although China had conducted a successful economic reform by moving away from socialism, the country remained brutal to its citizens by imposing regulations and strict rules through totalitarian rule.
China had used oppressive measures such as brutally handling demonstrators at Tiananmen Square and banning religious groups. This caused international attention and made China to be on the spotlight. In order to continue exercising its strict control, China was determined to ensure that spread of information through the internet was controlled. The country could not allow dissemination of information it regarded harmful or politically sensitive.
This was done by censoring information on the internet, something that was discouraged by internet providers. This problem is based on consenquentialist theory which holds that the goodness of the conduct of an individual is based on the effects of the behavior. The problem here is based on following regulations and rules that deny people access to information through the internet (McCullagh 2).
The problem could also be non-consequentialist where it is based on the qualities rather than the consequences. When this theory is applied, China would censor information by pointing out that there are some morals that should not be defied.
Solutions to the Problem
The first solution to this problem is for the Chinese government to stop its totalitarian regime. It is this kind of regime that makes the government suspicious that when the citizens access particular information, they will revolt against the government. The Chinese government should educate its citizens on the importance of building good character and abiding to the laws of the land. As a result, there will be no reason for the government to impose strict regulations and rules on how to use the internet.
This solution is a virtue-based theory because it centers on encouraging citizens to build good character. The second solution is for the Chinese government to teach the citizens the consequences of their behavior. It is important for them to know that some behaviors have negative consequences while others have positive ones. The rightness of their behavior will therefore be judged on the basis of the consequences. This is a consequential solution to the problem.
China’s Decision to Implement Censorship
The move that was taken by China to implement the censorship program was not ethical. This is because ethics is concerned with doing what is right to the people. The system that China imposed of censoring internet usage was aimed at ensuring that people did not gain access to particular information deemed sensitive or politically sensitive. For instance, the government employed police officers to monitor internet usage in cyber cafes by ensuring that the Chinese law was enforced appropriately.
This system was not ethical because it was intended at denying people access to information. By putting such restrictions in place, the Chinese government intended to restrict its citizens from going against its totalitarian regime.
Introduction of internet censorship by the Chinese government was also not ethical because it caused Google Inc to go against its principles. Google has a principle that it is not supposed to censor its content. The censorship program forced the company to compromise some of its policies.
For instance, it did not want to deny the citizens of China its services. It was therefore forced to offer its services by conforming to the rules and regulations of the Chinese government. Another compromise that Google made was allowing itself to be seen as if it was supporting censorship. This is not ethical because for the company because its policy is that censorship on internet usage should not be exercised.
Ethical Behavior by Google Inc
Since Google is an internationally recognized company, it did not want to get into trouble with the Chinese government. It wanted its services in China to be successful because service provision to its users is essential. As a result, it did an ethical action by adhering to the laws and regulations set by the Chinese government. As part of the requirements, Google was supposed to filter the contents displayed on the internet although it was not clear how it was supposed to comply with this.
Google posted notification to its users on the China site that it was carrying out filtering. The users could therefore expect some particular information not to be displayed. They gave reasons of the move to the users by informing them that they were doing so to conform to the Chinese laws and regulations on internet usage.
The move by Google to follow the regulations and laws put by the Chinese government was ethical because it was a requirement by the government. Although it was not the right thing for Google to do, failure to comply with the government laws could have led to problems with the government.
It was ethical for a reputable and international company to adhere to the laws and regulations of the country in which it wanted to start its operations. It was also ethical for Google to inform its users through a note that it was not displaying particular information because it was a requirement by the government not to display the information.
Works Cited
Economist. The internet in China. 2011. Web.
McCullagh, Declan. China: We don’t censor the Internet, Really. 2006. 26 Sep 2011. 09
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