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In a weird day where the media scrutinized Bill Gates' humanitarian contributions against that of Steve Jobs', the Microsoft founder came out in defense of Google's selective censorship in China.

In the Times Online article, Gates addressed an audience at the World Economic Forum:

"the Internet is contributing to Chinese political engagement...access to the outside world is preventing more censorship"

Gates further added that "state censorship was no reason for technology companies not to do business in China." In fact, a lot of foreign companies that wanted to cash in on the robust Chinese Economic Engine have complied with all government-mandated censorship. The economic gain from setting up shop in China was too attractive to let principles stand in the way.

Google received a lot of flak due to its regular and recent appearance in the news. Plus, the incident gave a lot of critics ammunition to take a shot at the company's "Don't be evil" philosophy.

 

As an Anti-Microsoft "Windows user", I find myself in agreement with ol'Bill this time round. The Internet is a powerful tool - one that can help introduce "Democracy" and "Freedom and Information" to the Communist Regime. It is also a potential compass for pointing in the direction of improved Human Rights. The Chinese citizens are already using the internet to open up dialogue channels between them and the Government. The process may be slow and arduous, but it is imperative that the task be undertaken early. Bill likened the process to fighting software piracy in China:

"We are always upset that they aren't paying us for our products, but we're not going to pick up and go home"

In other words, for the benefit of both China and foreign businesses, everyone needs to bite the bullet for now in the hopes of a better future.

For national security reasons [described in "Google, Censorship, and Democracy"], the media, and not just the internet, has to be heavily regulated at this moment.

I firmly believe that China will be a Democratic Society in the not-so-distant future, the rest of the world just needs to be patient.

Read: Gates vs. Jobs: who is the good guy?

	This article is by: YC (Guest Blogger) from the Technocrat Soapbox