Google's Schmidt defends hosting of anti-Islam film
Google, the parent company of the video-sharing site, has blocked access to "Innocence of Muslims" in a number of nations, including India, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, where it is deemed illegal.
But Schmidt stressed that the low-budget video met YouTube's basic criteria for material that can be posted, which is why it remains accessible in many countries.
"Google has a very clear view on this, which is that we believe the answer to bad speech is more speech," he told reporters in the South Korean capital Seoul.
Violence triggered by the film has claimed around 50 lives, including that of the US ambassador to Libya.
"We obviously do not endorse the use of the video or these ideas... hatred or violence or anything, but we openly believe that the best answer to it is more speech, not the other way around," Schmidt said.
"Some countries disagree. There are some places where we had to actually block access to that video," he added.
Other countries, including Pakistan and Sudan, blocked the access themselves.
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@A Watch this movie 'Life is Beautiful", one of the best Movies from around the world. You ll enlighten yourself by doing so.
@Truth Detector: "Doesn’t Google accommodate Chinese government’s requirements about censorship etc? I guess when a lot of money is involved, commitment to freedom of speech can take a hike !!! That is double standard."
Google blocks access within China for certain things. Google does not remove things from google or youtube based on China's request per se. The exact same thing was done for Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia etc. who requested that youtube block access for its citizens for the 'blasphemous video'. Strangely, despite all the speeches in UN, Pakistan never asked youtube to block this video witin Pakistan. If it had, that request would most probably have been complied wit. Instead what Pakistan asked for is to remove the movie from youtube worldwide and also prosecute the person who made the film. Even China does not get that. At a broader level, people who pay a a higher fare travel first class while those that pay a lower amount travel economy. This is not double standard. This is how the world works.@A: Go ahead. I have seen several conspiracy videos about the Holocaust myself. You can't, of course, if you're Pakistani, since YouTube is banned. PLEASE! Stop spreading misinformation and lies! Denial of holocaust is not punishable in US, or on the internet in general!
@Joe: "Holocaust denial is entirely legal in the US". Dear Joe,
Technically the US have the right to free speech, but when have you read any Holocaust denial articles in the US media?
Does this mean that Holocaust denial should be encouraged?
@A:
You mean the 1971 East Pakistan one?
@zeeshan sheikh: "schmidt’ the name tells everything why they are not blocking it. ‘schmidt’ what about freedom of speech in holocaust of your own people "
YEs. That is free speech to in US and youcan find any number of videos on youtube denying the holocaust
Doesn't Google accommodate Chinese government's requirements about censorship etc? I guess when a lot of money is involved, commitment to freedom of speech can take a hike !!! That is double standard.
@ A
Google and you will find it.
'schmidt' the name tells everything why they are not blocking it. 'schmidt' what about freedom of speech in holocaust of your own people
Just so their business keeps running- they believe their site should get more hits- awesome way of putting it Mr. Schmidt the more the speech- the more people will hit YouTube! damn you - you just care about your business not even about your own ambassador- let alone the people who died otherwise!
@ A
youtube is full of holocaust denial videos, just type "holocaust lie" in youtube search and see how many videos you finds :) go figure !
@A
Why don't you try searching youtube for something such as "Fake Holocaust"...
Holocaust denial is entirely legal in the U.S. and making it illegal has never been seriously considered.
It is only illegal in a few European countries that were, in the past, involved with Nazism. It is illegal along with the use of any Nazi symbols, or the book Mein Kampf. These laws were passed immediately after WWII.
and for the sake of speech u removed holocaust related material! some people r so weak to present reason from sick mind like Googlr CEO.
Don't tell us that it better to bark back at the barking Dog instaed of muzzeling it. Typical Islamophibia excsue.....
I wish someone could share some links about holocaust on youtube in the name of freedom of expression/speech !
Let's see how long you will adhere to this statement???