Uh, Roger – “Leaky” Leahy is a reactionary hack.

However, I find that the view an individual’s (or a corporation) view of information may tend to be less altruistic. Mr. Simon here seems to be pushing for the Freedom of Information. He stands against the Chineese government for trying to restrict the flow of information. He stands against Google for not providing the US government with information. Yet, I recall, not so long ago, a number of posts decrying the evilness of Google because they were going to make books available online, freely. The freedom of information, perhaps lasts only until the proponent fears it may touch their purse.

Information doesn’t want to be free, it doesn’t have a right to be free, nor does anyone have a RIGHT to information. Information simply exists and it is up to the society in which that information exists to determine how information will be handled.

Before WWII most scientific researchers freely shared information and we find huge leaps in the understanding of physics because of this. Since WWII more an more researchers are bound by NDA’s and patent laws. Our society (or at least those that control the laws of our society) have decided that information isn’t free, and everyone isn’t entitled access.

I don’t particularly agree with the decisions of our society, but that’s how it goes.

In China, their society has decided on further restrictions of Information. It too seems foolhardy, but that’s how it goes.

If one supports breaking chineese law and their social rules around information. Then too, they should support breaking US law and their social rules around information.

So, when can we expect to see all Roger L Simon’s books available via Google?

That was then and it took years for the facts to come to the public’s attention.
IBM could have been shamed if faced with its history but the people couldn’t be bothered. Neither the Europeans who suffered under the Nazi jackboot nor Americans who unwittingly bought the shares.
But people know now what is happening and it is up to them to behave accordingly and stand for the very rights they demand for themselves now “while the iron is hot”.
While the present behaviour of Google and co., has primarily to do with China it could come back to bite Americans.

soon the internet is going to be much harder for the odious chinese authorities to police, and will require truly heroic levels of state committment, in the face of diminishing returns.

if i’m right, then the big companies’ long term strategy of hanging in there while times are tough, and while journalists are getting beaten to death by appointees of the state, so that they (google, etc) can hopefully be able to make a difference some years down the road, may not be such a bad one.