Google Gets Caught Up at International Border Crossing

In early April, South Korea introduced a new law that requires commenters and content uploaders on websites like forums to provide a verifiable real-name registration, complete with government ID number.  The law also requires that news websites be held to the same standards as print, TV, and radio, and be answerable to the Korean Communication Standards Commission.  The law would also require search engines to be more transparent, as well as give the authorities the ability to remove content or even shut down websites entirely for failing to adhere to stricter rules.

Last week, YouTube Korea announced that it would be limiting the ways Korean residents could interact with the website; commenting and video uploads have been disallowed.  Google/YouTube would be required to keep registration information and hand it over to the government if requested. Google says they support the right for people to remain anonymous if they choose, and so is circumventing the law by limiting the features of YouTube Korea.

Similarly, conservative politicians in Germany want to enact a law that would require commenters, uploaders, and video viewers to register and provide their identifying information in an effort to stop the uploads of violent videos.  PaidContent.org notes that to circumvent any potential German law, Google would seemingly have to pull down the entire site (based on their actions in South Korea).  In Germany, YouTube is the top online video site, with nearly 68% of the market.  In South Korea, YouTube lags behind in 4th position.

Obviously, Google is facing some tough times ahead regarding freedom of expression on the internet and international law.  Although the US prides itself on free speech, the same rights are not guaranteed everywhere else.  Already, Google has faced criticism for  seemingly caving to China’s demands in 2006 to censor search results.  Google is already facing heavy criticism from the Korean government about its actions to circumvent Korea’s new law.

YouTube also faced an organized attack today by 4Chan members who posted pornographic videos in response to repeated removals of music content on the site, another issue that YouTube and Google have had to grapple with.

YouTube and Google are in an unenviable position of wanting to provide content and access to content that crosses all borders and nationalities, while needing to tow an acceptable enough line that it can do business across all borders and nationalities.  That creates an immense number of rules and bureaucracies one corporation has to abide by.  Although the international business side of Google continues to grow, can Google continue to operate by the same standards and mantra of “Do no evil” in all countries?

Image by Daquella Manera under Creative Commons.