TIBETANS OUTRAGED BY GOOGLE'S "EVIL" PLAN FOR CENSORSHIP IN CHINA
"Don't Be Evil" Protest Planned for Google Headquarters Today
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 25th, 2006 Contact:
Lhadon Tethong, (917) 418-4181
Thupten Tsering, (510) 381-8384 Tibetans Outraged by Google's "Evil" Plan for Censorship in China
"Don't Be Evil" Protest Planned for Google Headquarters Today
San Francisco - Students for a Free Tibet is outraged at Google's decision to join hands with the Chinese Government in its censorship efforts. Google has launched a web search engine custom-built to the Chinese authorities' specifications that blocks access to information about Tibet, human rights, and other topics sensitive to Beijing.
"Students and young people worldwide are appalled by Google's decision to become active partners in China's censorship apparatus," said Lhadon Tethong, Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet. "Google's participation in the Chinese government's program of repression and information control renders the company motto "Don't be evil" a terrible joke."
Google rivals Yahoo! and Microsoft have already shown a willingness to cooperate with Chinese authorities. Last year, Yahoo! provided information that helped jail a Chinese dissident for ten years and last month, Microsoft shut down a Chinese political blogger's site for "not complying with local law."
"Political and corporate leaders constantly tell us that foreign business will contribute to a more open and democratic China," added Ms. Tethong. "This is yet another sign that China is in fact forcing foreign businesses to be more closed and anti-democratic."
Tibetans and their supporters will hold a demonstration at 5:00 pm today at Google Headquarters at 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway in Mountain View, CA.
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