Helen & Harry Highwater's cranky weblog of news and opinion.
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"News that's not known, or not known enough." Helen & Harry Highwater's cranky weblog of news and opinion. |
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We're not about to become anti-Google activists, and we still think Google's the best search engine. We're happy Google accepted our ad ... and still, we're concerned that it was a problem at all. It's not about bumper stickers. The underlying question is far more important: Is it Google's mission to provide information, or to prevent information from being provided? For a few days, Google's ad department decided we didn't exist, so we sold no bumper stickers. Anyone who has an on-line presence — a business, a club, a personal site, a mailing group, anything — should understand the dangers in that. But we're not sure Google understands the dangers. Gagged by Google An internet giant threatens free speech. Google and the Maoists All of the Maoist Internationalist Movement's ads are cancelled, with the same form letters from Google. Google Watch A look at how Google's monopoly, algorithms, and privacy policies are undermining the Web Meet Mr. Anti-Google Daniel Brandt has spent a lifetime questioning the secret machinations of people in positions of authority, and he's taking on Google in that same spirit. Google and hate speech Google confirmed on Wednesday that the sites had been removed from listings available at Google.fr [for French users] and Google.de [for German users]. The removed sites continue to appear in listings on the main Google.com site. Google and news It has become apparent that Google News is inventing excuses to not index popular alternative news websites, including Infoshop News. Google and what's unacceptable Google rejects ads from Nazis selling "unacceptable products." The same Google policy will, of course, prevent anyone from advertising any product the staff at Google deems "unacceptable." GooglePrudery: Booted for Dissing Dubya Google must have found out that we're 97% Evil... they've suspended our Adwords adverts! Google and advocacy Google rejects an anti-gay groups' "advocacy" ad. The same Google policy will, of course, prevent anyone from advertising any advocacy for any cause. Google and boycotts Google rejects ads calling for boycotts. In this case, it's a pro-war group urging people to boycott French products. The same Google policy will, of course, prevent anyone from advertising any boycott for any cause. Google and poetry "My ads were then disapproved and my campaigns were suspended." Google and politics Google refuses an ad for a political sticker. The same Google policy will, of course, prevent anyone from advertising any political cause. (In light of this, I'm re-astounded that an ad for *our* sticker was accepted; presumably Google just got tired of our emails...) Google and AdWords Frequently asked questions Google and Scientology The Church of Scientology's Supremacy over the search term "Scientology" on Google Also: Good articles from Microcontent News: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 Google's panel of experts "Since you deleted everything, (see below), how can you feel right about charging me a 50 cent posting fee?" Google and the vomitous worm "I still think Google's policy of not allowing political advocacy ads is misguided, impossible to administer with any kind of fairness, and a scary step toward restricting the free marketplace of ideas." Google and exclusion Search results which may otherwise be shown, are deliberately excluded. The suppression may be local to a country, or global to all Google results. Google vs. Evil The world's biggest, best-loved search engine owes its success to supreme technology and a simple rule: Don't be evil. Now the geek icon is finding that moral compromise is just the cost of doing big business. Google and love speech The weblog for fans of Google
| March 17, 2003 The first email from Google:
Our first reply to Google: Dear Google, Based on your note, I have no idea what you're talking about or what you're objecting to. Are you seriously suggesting that our bumper stickers or website "advocates against an individual, group, or organization"? I've never heard anything (except from Google itself) to suggest "Google believes strongly in freedom of expression." I'd love to believe it, and maybe you'll show me that it's true. I have heard accounts involving strange, petty, or simply bizarre Google policies and pronouncements — kinda like this one — that would suggest the opposite. I hope you'll explain the problem with something other than a clearly non-applicable form letter. If so, I'll try my darndest to understand. If not, please ring up the $7.85 in charges incurred for this ad and we shan't bother you again. Cordially, Helen & Harry Highwater, Unknown News
March 19, 2003 The second email from Google:
Our second reply to Google: Kenji, May I quietly ask: Have you *visited* our website? If so, could you point to the parts that promote hate, violence, racial intolerance, or advocate against any individual, group, or organization? There's none of that here. We are "anti" war. We "advocate against" killing thousands of Iraqis in the next few days. Is *that* what's not allowed to be said? Or is it OK to oppose a war, but not with "emotional arguments"? If I understand your position, Google will take our money and run our ad, but only after we "edit" our site, only after we present arguments we oppose — arguments that *do* "promote hate, violence, racial intolerance, or advocate against any individual, group, or organization" unlucky enough to be in Baghdad. Cordially, I cannot in good conscience do business with a company that would ask us to do that. Helen & Harry Highwater, Unknown News
March 21, 2003 The third email from Google:
Our third reply to Google: First you said Google wouldn't sell ads to sites that "promote hate, violence, racial intolerance, or advocate against any individual, group, or organization," and I wondered what that had to do with our peace-and-freedomesque site. Now it's the bumper sticker you object to, and — lemme get this straight — if we'll just remove all reference to the bumper sticker from our ad and from our website, you'll let us buy an ad for the bumper sticker? How do we sell stickers if you won't let us mention them? "Google believes strongly in freedom of expression," your first email said. In subsequent notes, though, you're worried that our ad, our website, and our bumper stickers "may be potentially offensive to some religious communities." Freedom of expression is always "potentially offensive." But we've been selling "Who would Jesus bomb?" stickers for a month and a half (mostly to Christians, judging by customers' comments) and nobody's yet told us they're offended. The Christians we know are generally intelligent and thoughtful, and whether they agree or disagree with our position, they recognize that the question is apropos when a predominantly Christian nation goes to war. We strongly believe in freedom of expression, so your *repeated* suggestions for how we should change our ad, alter our bumper stickers, or edit our website to Google's satisfaction are just silly. Freedom of expression means *we* decide what appears at unknownnews.net, and what our bumper stickers and ads will say. It also means, of course, that Google decides what appears at google.com. If you think it's offensive to ask Christians about Christ, you have the right to refuse our $7.85. There's a war on, and it's already been condemned by the Pope, but Google won't allow us to ask what the deity would do. *Wow*... I think it's *bonkers* to say you believe strongly in freedom of expression, but I will defend to the death Google's right to be bonkers. I say this with a smile, as I'm really too busy to be angry: If Google will take our money and run our ad, please do so. If you won't then don't. But if you seriously imagine we'll rework any or all of our message to please Google, you're mistaken. We're not changing squat. We're going to do what we've been doing for five years: We're going to say what we want to say, for an audience of open-minded adults who really do believe in freedom of expression. Cordially, Helen & Harry Highwater, Unknown News
March 22, 2003 The final email from Google:
Our final reply to Google: Apologies cheerfully accepted, and all is forgiven with no grudge. Thanks for reinstating our ad. While the matter has your attention, though, I'd like to add a quick closing comment: Please, remember what happened here. It's not about us, and never was. We just run an amateur news and commentary website, and sell bumper stickers to try to make ends meet (which they never do). Being "disallowed" by Google was only a minor inconvenience for us. For a lot of people, though, it would be a much bigger problem. And it has implications that seem worrisome. Certainly, Google needs to screen out ads for child pornographers and hired assassins and so forth. I just hope Google's ad screeners are encouraged to have a very When more and more people are allowed more and more freedom to express themselves, that's a good thing — even if someone somewhere is offended, as someone somewhere inevitably will be. Freedom is what I love about America, and about the internet, and I hope Google stands for freedom. Thanks for your open-mindedness in this matter, And — peace, Helen & Harry Highwater, Unknown News
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