Apple: Screw Google — We’re with China
Steve Jobs releases statement in support of China’s censorship stance. “Filtering content without explanation is part of leading,” he says.
As Google wages an all-out war with China over Internet censorship, Apple is stepping out in defense of the People’s Republic.
Apple dictator CEO Steve Jobs released a statement on Friday expressing his support of China’s actions and condemning Google for its opposition of the nation’s “minion-protecting” policies.
“Clearly, China is looking out for its citizens’ best interests by preventing them from accessing material the leaders don’t feel is appropriate,” Jobs’ statement says. “Sometimes, the wise men at the top know what’s best for everyone else and need to take a strong-handed approach.”
Jobs specifically references China’s censorship of pornographic material, noting that he too does not allow “such filth” into his dominion. He also defends China’s decision to block selected Google services over the years, claiming that such sweeping and seemingly illogical moves are often necessary in a totalitarian organization.
“Filtering out a company’s content without explanation is part of leading an autocratic group,” Jobs writes, pointing to his own regime’s never-fully-explained bans of such utilities as Google Voice and Google Latitude. “All of this nonsense about ‘transparency’ and ‘giving your followers choice’ is overrated.”
The Apple statement goes on to laud China’s other communistic tactics, including the government’s secrecy and frequent dissemination of misleading information. Such moves are needed to “protect a regime,” Jobs says, and “pretending the decisions are made for the people’s benefit is often the best way to avoid dissent.”
Today’s statement is not the first time Apple has aligned itself with the Chinese government. Apple previously worked closely with China in developing its overall business model, past reports indicate. Jobs was also believed to be a key “oppression advisor” to the Chinese government as it sought to bring the far-too-unrestricted Android mobile platform into its country late last year.
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