Et Tu, Google?

A few days ago I wrote about how Microsoft collaborated with Chinese authorities. Now Google, a company with the motto, Do No Evil, joins them: it agreed to censor some of its services in accordance with the wishes of Chinese authorities.

They present an unconvincing rationale:

While removing search results is inconsistent with Google's mission, providing no information (or a heavily degraded user experience that amounts to no information) is more inconsistent with our mission.

This is clearly nonsense. Not providing any information is million times more honorable and correct than providing only selected information. And this selection will be made by Chinese authorities in obvious disregard for any legitimate concern on the part of Chinese people. Now Google will assist them in this repressive endeavor.

I think it is very clear that Google did not want to lose the highly rewarding Chinese market at any cost, and hence this.

Update: A more rounded opinion of mine on this is here.