Posted on 03/31/2010 9:30:11 PM PDT by myknowledge
Google will close its Australian operations, effectively blacklisting the country in response to the Federal Government's "evil" plan to filter the internet.
ZDNet.com.au has confirmed that the search engine giant will close its doors on Australia for good, effective immediately, marking the end of four years of its operation here and a long-running battle with the government over its plan to filter the internet.
Known for changing its famous logo to commemorate special occasions, Google's Australian site this morning featured a somewhat blunt statement on how the company viewed its place in the local market (see screenshot).
"We've already left China. That was clearly not a bluff and besides I couldn't take the food anyway," said Google CEO Eric Schmidt. "Oh yeah, and our company motto is always... I mean never ... wait, it's 'Don't Be Evil'. So we just can't be part of it."
Schmidt did however concede that it would be harder to leave Australia than China.
"It's a shame because our Sydney office has really nice views of the harbour. And have you seen our kitchen? I suppose Fairfax will want it now. Well, what's left of it anyway."
When asked for comment, Communications Minister Stephen Conroy was silent for a moment before shouting, "They can't blacklist us ... we've already blacklisted them!"
Some Microsoft representatives were on hand outside Conroy's office to offer their thoughts on Google's departure and to hand out the many "Bing" T-shirts they had brought along.
"Look, we believe in competition, and now that Google is leaving Australia we will be able to compete," a Microsoft spokesperson said.
While it's goodbye to Google for Aussies, the company will retain a local presence, according to Schmidt.
"We expect to continue operations in the region just not in Australia", said Schmidt. "We'll probably move to another nearby country, like Tasmania or something."
I read somewhere recently that the nation wide filter was being scrapped, but I’m not sure if that’s the final word.
I was actually wondering if it would open up the opportunity for a business that specialises in setting up secure tunneling to by-pass filters, and whether that would be a viable business, given the potential for frequent help requests that could come from customers.
I can’t help thinking a lot of people would be interested on general principles. Would help the slow down though.
Wouldn’t help the slow down, sorry.
Dunno about that. I see you live in a socialist state with a communist president and I see my country has a conservative govt. As at February 2010 your country has 10.4% unemployed and mine has 7.3%. It seems your country is doing far better at prohibiting people from working than mine.
Only one problem though: that's so fast that you'll ending wasting time waiting for the various web hosting services to catch up!
No, I think it’s only illegal if they’re trying to cross said public road at the same time as “attending” their flock member...
[Honestly though — where did that sign come from, and why did whomever make it decide it was necessary... I think that’s the real story behind this (no pun intended)]
S&A — Must see “Australian Tourism” ad on this thread. The “masters of comedy” on your list will no doubt have a blast — I couldn’t come up with anything sufficiently funny that would also pass the “censors”. :)
Probably. You seem to be taking it a bit seriously for an April Fool's joke.
Will the Tasmanian devils help with this ‘evil’ problem?
Is Google now basing itself in Topeka, KS?
It’s not Google anymore, it’s Topeka.
LOL, was it? Dang, this global thing bit me on the arse. ;-)
Let's not exaggerate
I have a hunch that by April 2 they might reconsider the name change.
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