This wouldn’t be so disappointing if it weren’t for their oft-advertised ethos of “don’t be evil”:
Launching a Google domain that restricts information in any way isn’t a step we took lightly. For several years, we’ve debated whether entering the Chinese market at this point in history could be consistent with our mission and values. Our executives have spent a lot of time in recent months talking with many people, ranging from those who applaud the Chinese government for its embrace of a market economy and its lifting of 400 million people out of poverty to those who disagree with many of the Chinese government’s policies, but who wish the best for China and its people. We ultimately reached our decision by asking ourselves which course would most effectively further Google’s mission to organize the world’s information and make it universally useful and accessible. Or, put simply: how can we provide the greatest access to information to the greatest number of people?
I don’t think anyone was shocked when Yahoo! kowtowed to China. They’ve always been business first, cool second, but Google was supposed to be better and different. But all the Google fanboys should remember, when the rubber met the road, and principle clashed with capital, Google got in line with everyone else, shriveling their ethos into a hollow marketing slogan.