This came round this morning but I I doubt if it is true
Google hasn't quit Australia and they have real censorship over there
- the NZ filter is voluntary
jan
Found this leaked press release. Interesting reading.
Cheers, Colin
Google to Shutdown Search Engine in New Zealand
Google has announced that it will close its search engine in New
Zealand, effective April 1, 2010. This shock announcement follows a
confession by the manager of the Censorship Compliance Unit of the
New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) Steve O'Brien to
internet freedom campaigners Tech Liberty
Google, still stinging from adverse publicity over its row with the
government of China said that it is taking a "proactive stance"
with the New Zealand government, noting the "outrageous subterfuge"
and questionable legal practices that the New Zealand government
has engaged in over this issue.
While some ISPs including market leaders Telecom and TelstraClear
have tipped that they will use the voluntary filter already
secretly tested by ISPs Watchdog and Maxnet, other ISPs, including
Slingshot, Orcon and Whoosh have said they will not be using the
filter.
Google, echoing the editorial posted by New Zealand Tech Liberty,
said that the New Zealand government has no legal mandate to filter
the Internet, that the action violates the New Zealand Bill of
Rights, that this move is doubtless a smokescreen to censor
politically oriented websites the NZ government disapproves of, and
that such filters are completely ineffective.
"We are as opposed to child pornography as anyone", noted the
Google spokeman who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We have a
cozy relationship with many Western government agencies, including
the CIA. Believe me, we do more than our part to assist law
enforcement agencies in their search for illegal activities," he
added.
Google has already received complaints from the New Zealand
government and from New Zealand ISPs. One firm's spokesman, who
preferred to remain anonymous, complained that because of New
Zealand's small population, it was convenient for Google to "make
an example" of New Zealand. Google said it is "standing firm" on
its decision to shut off its search engine in New Zealand unless
the New Zealand government relents on its censorship plans.
It appears rather clear now that a compromise between Google and
New Zealand is far from arriving. Google would rather close down
its search engine before it will compromise on illegal censorship.
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