Google vs. China’s “Great Firewall”: Ethical implications for free speech and sovereignty

Prior to its 2010 decision to leave China, Google has been blamed for helping the Chinese government to filter the Internet since it launched “Google.cn” in 2006. The primary goal of this paper is to investigate whether Google’s launching of “Google.cn” that censors material deemed objectionable to the Chinese government is ethical or not. Apparently, it seems that Google should be blamed for helping Chinese officials to filter the Internet and to abridge freedom of speech. Unlike its outward aspects, however, Google’s case is not simple. This article presents evidence and arguments that suggest it is difficult to assert that Google is an unethical firm to abridge freedom of speech in China.