Google has struck again – dealing a decisive blow to “freedom of speech” and “democratic values.”
Twenty-two-year old Rahul Krishnakumar Vaid was arrested by the cyber crime cell of Pune police last Friday from Gurgaon in Haryana for posting vulgar content about Congress president Sonia Gandhi on social networking site Orkut.
“As far as India is concerned, one has fundamental rights but you can override them. But obscene and vulgar data is punishable under IT act,” says DCP, Pune Cyber Crime Cell, Sunil Phulari.
Vaid had posted the content an Orkut community titled ‘I hate Sonia Gandhi’.
Google, the owner of Orkut was asked to divulge details about Vaid and it obliged. In a statement, Google says, “In compliance with valid Indian legal process, we provided Indian law enforcement authorities with the IP address information they requested in this case.”
Google lures you with free blogger space as blogspot, youtube, orkut… If rogue government officials around the world get to define what is vulgar… then we have a serious problem.
As an Indian national forum, which takes great pride in the efforts of Subash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi, Chayakada is saddened by the Indian government’s draconian law.
The morality of the congress party is not even questionable… it is downright pathetic. Starting with the Emergency and the crime towards humanity during the Emergency 1975-’77, when Sonia’ mother in law – Indira Gandhi – and her regime did everything to refuse and deny basic human rights to India’s citizens.
The same congress party has no shame or moral outrage when it comes to the mass murder of Indians from the Sikh community in Delhi, 1984. The congress party has lacked ‘morality in public space’ than any other political party in India.
They will have to face the truth one day sooner.
That said, what Google has been doing in India must be condemned. Google’s actions are so undemocratic. In the US, google takes a completely different position.
When Senator Lieberman asked Google
“By taking action to curtail the use of YouTube to disseminate the goals and methods of those who wish to kill innocent civilians, Google will make a singularly important contribution to this important national effort,” Lieberman wrote.
Google’s response was American in every word:
“While we respect and understand his views, YouTube encourages free speech and defends everyone’s right to express unpopular points of view. We believe that YouTube is a richer and more relevant platform for users precisely because it hosts a diverse range of views, and rather than stifle debate we allow our users to view all acceptable content and make up their own minds.”
Google management sings different tunes in different democracies. Google CEO Eric Schmidt should come clean on the Jekyll and Hyde nature of his company.
As google has its HQ in the US, wait a minute – it is in the State of California! – I urge all supporters of freedom of speech and democracy, especially our friends in the United States of America to write to their congressmen and senators to pull up Google for their irresponsible, undemocratic and above all UNAMERICAN actions in India.
I wonder what Obama, Hillary and McCain has to say about Google slandering democracy in India.
I am totally agree with your views.
How can Google refer us USER not a customer? while it’s the Customer not User by whom what they think what they are…….
I think eventually Google is just another wolf in sheep’s skin.
No better then Microsoft really.
I hope the young lad is forgiven this small thing…afterall they’ve forgiven their pop’s killer.
Dhruv,
It is not about forgiving and forgetting. The issue is Google has double standards on “freedom of speech”. One in the US and another in India, China… You really wonder if Robert Mugabe’s government asks for information in a similar circumstance – would they hand it over?
The problem with Google is they have monstrous amount of information available on individuals and businesses… Google is becoming a nasty monster. Are they being Responsible? No way.
That India has stupid laws is the biggest joke. We have opened up every sector of our business, trade and even society to foreign investors. When it comes to media and law firms, India is still a closed economy.
We need foreign law firms in India; India’s lawyers are very archaic. We need lawyers who would sue the government in the Supreme Court.
As long as we treat judges as “My Lord” – democracy gets killed.
For India to be truly a nice country for everyone… we need structural reforms in every sector of the administration.
That said, Google’s behaviour should worry Americans more than anyone else.
It is just a matter of a few years – when there will be a truly people’s government in India.
That’s a prophecy.
Google should be more democratic,Google will loose it way, dont you worry!
The Social networking websites or Business Social networking blogs are increasingly changing and developing the Presence of the young people into the society,1 great exemplo, have people like you working for a better community!
I hope for a better future