[Irl-dean] Google and China and accessibility (Was: Gmail basic mode switch )

[Joshue O Connor]

Eoin said:

> My question is: should companies comply with the laws of the country
> in which they choose to operate?;

This is a question which is at the core of the way modern globalisation
operates. In practice many companies choose to operate in areas where
they are not required to conform to the laws or jurisprudence of the
host country at all. In many Asian countries companies operate their
businesses in EPZ's (Export Processing Zones) which while technically in
the host country are pretty much legal vacuums. They operate under their
own auspices, which is usually very thin on workers rights, quality of
working conditions etc and other moral and ethical frameworks. So in a
sense they are conveniently in a moral and ethical limbo. This suits big
business very well and all the horrors on the mindless march for profit
can be easily conjured up. The argument from the west is that this is
useful progress and though the workers are being exploited etc, the fact
that they have gainful employment and are therefore contributing to the
GDP is a good thing. However, in reality this is business in a moral
vacuum. With thousands of miles between the exploitation of workers and
the finished product its relatively easy for big business to spin.

Its also nothing new and has been going on as long as there have been
colonial powers who wish to extend themselves and their wealth, at any
cost. The thing here is that its becoming more subtle and in the case of
Google, if it was not them proving information to the government on
dangerous subversives like Falun Gong or *real* pro-democracy agitators
then it would be someone else.

Should there be accountability, yes. But I guess this will have to come
from the consumers of the products and will not come from business
itself. Our power as a consumer is in many ways far more powerful than
the current democratic model, with real potential for social change and
maybe some day a move to a more sustainable and compassionate capitalist
model.

Josh




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