Question: Why are you so mad at Google?

Answer: Google recently launched a new search platform in China and Tibet that censors and distorts information on topics sensitive to the Chinese government such as "Tibet," "human rights," "democracy," "Falun Gong," and hundreds more. This move reversed Google's policy of not censoring searches on its Chinese language website. Google is now actively supporting the Chinese government's censorship and information control apparatus - widely recognized by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and countless other NGOs and governmental agencies to be one of the most ruthless and repressive systems in the world.

Q: How is Google censoring information in China and Tibet?

A: Google's new web search platform - Google.cn - filters search results according to criteria set by the Chinese Communist Party. For instance, a search for "Dalai Lama," will omit thousands of websites and users will be instead directed to sites and articles condemning the exiled Tibetan leader in Chinese government-run media and websites with a ".cn" suffix. Searches for other subjects sensitive to Beijing such as "Falun Gong", "Taiwan independence," and terms such as "democracy" and "human rights" will yield similar results. The net result is more than simply censorship - it's a promotion of Chinese government propaganda on issues critical to people in China and Tibet.

Q: How is this different than what they were already doing in China and Tibet?

A: Google.com was already operating a Chinese-language website in China and Tibet. Even though access to information sensitive to Beijing was restricted, Google refused to be responsible for the censorship - the Chinese authorities were responsible for censoring websites and sanitizing users' search results. Now, Google has custom-built a websearch platform - Google.cn - to the Chinese authorities' specifications, effectively doing their dirty work for them.

Q: I heard Google is legally required to censor some search results in the U.S. and Europe - isn't this the same?

A: While we don't support censorship, we feel it is completely inappropriate to compare legal restrictions on websites containing child pornography (in the U.S) or Neo-Nazi hate speech (in Germany) to the suppression of information about human rights and democracy in China and Tibet. But don't take our word for it... Congressman Tom Lantos says, "in essence, [this] equates the vile language and evil purposes of Neo-Nazi groups and hate speech with content provided by the human rights activists of Falun Gong, by journalists and by democracy activists in China. There simply is no comparison between efforts of the democratically-elected government of the Federal Republic of Germany to move against hate-mongerers, and the Chinese regime cracking down on religious freedom, human rights and democracy."

Q: Isn't it better for Google to be engaged in China in this way than not at all?

A: Google was already operating a Chinese-language search portal in China and in fact enjoyed the second-largest market share as well as the highest rating from users. However, the Chinese government's 30,000 internet police and China's "great firewall" were responsible for censoring websites and sanitizing users' search results. Now, Google has custom-built a websearch platform - Google.cn - to the Chinese authorities' specifications, doing their dirty work for them, and more effectively. This will make it harder for people in China and Tibet to access real information, not easier.

Q: I just searched on Google.cn and it seemed normal and uncensored to me - what gives?

A: Google.cn censors results only on searches made by people connecting to the internet from inside China and Tibet. The Chinese government regrets this unfortunate limitation.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish with this campaign?

A: We want to provide an outlet for the widespread outrage people worldwide have expressed since the launch of Google.cn. We want people inside Tibet, China and other Chinese-occupied territories to know that we respect their right to the free access of information just as much as we value our own. We want Google -- and all other international companies doing business in China -- to know that they have a basic human obligation to uphold higher standards than those set by the Chinese Communist Party. We want Google to end their partnership with the Chinese government and stand on the right side of history.

Q: What about Yahoo! and Microsoft etc., they're already doing this?

A: We deplore Yahoo and Microsoft's actions as well but as the industry leader, Google's impact is enormous. Google's decision to create its product to the Chinese authorities' specifications sets a very dangerous precedent of bringing the most advanced technology to the most closed and repressive government under the guise of effecting change. More importantly, the launch of Google.cn is a reversal of Google's policy of non-cooperation with China's internet censorship program.