YouTube Agrees to Self-Censorship
By Curt on Aug 30, 2007 in Google, YouTube, Thailand
Oh, joy. YouTube is no longer blocked in Thailand (according to Bankok’s The Nation newspaper, via Mashable).
All YouTube had to do was agree to sacrifice any principals it might have had, or might in the future wish to tout, regarding free speech.
This follows an agreement between the Ministry of ICT and YouTube that the site would curb any clips which have contents considered an affront to Thai people or those that violate the Kingdom’s laws.
Sitthichai said YouTube had just finished creating a program that would block sensitive video clips from being accessed from Thai Internet service providers (ISPs).
Congratulations, YouTube. Let me guess. You have no right to break the laws of another country? Right. I think we’ve heard that somewhere before. I’m sure the money cushions the fall. At least the YouTube folks have older gentlemen to advise them, gentlemen who have themselves been educated by such professors as one would find occupying, say the Chair of Internal Security at Beijing U.
In case it’s only been said 1,000 times: Yes, you do have a choice. You can refuse to do business where doing so hurts people and damages the free speech that allowed your company to come into existence. Or, you could band together with other companies and exert pressure and governments of places like Thailand. No choice? Hardly. There are always choices.
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