Google is an enemy of free speech
 

The recent Google decision to block non-approved web pharmacies does not bode well for anyone interested in freedom of speech.

Adult entertainment is next. The Matrix has you.

http://www.avnonline.com/issues/2003...120103_1.shtml

Google Drops Ads From Unlicensed Web Pharmacies
>> Charles Farrar, December 1, 2003

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - Advertisements from unlicensed Web pharmacies selling millions of prescription drugs without medical authorization will be dropped by Google, the Internet?s top search engine said over the final weekend in November.

Google to Limit Some Drug Ads

Google, the popular search engine, will stop accepting advertising from unlicensed pharmacies that have used the Internet to sell millions of doses of narcotics and prescription drugs without medical supervision, company officials said. Google's move follows decisions last month by Yahoo and by Microsoft's MSN site to stop accepting similar advertising.</nitf>

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2003Nov30.html

Old news.


for me, anyway.

Enemy of Free Speech? Google doesn't have to allow free speech.

Google is a private company. It is not a government entity. Only government entities, according to the US Supreme Ct, are constrained by the Constitution. Accordingly, it is outside of the control of the First Amendment because it is not a government entity. Even all the liberal tests formulated in the late 40's (starting with the anti-racist covenant case KRAMER) all the way to the late 60's could transform Google into a government player under the purview of the First Amendment.

That's going to be huge $$$ for the companies that are actually authorized to be selling prescription drugs. All the traffic that would have flowed to those fake pharmacies will flow to them now. Interesting.

and I'm sure those real sites are loving this up!

HAHA Since when is advertising illegal pharmacies to sell illegal prescriptions covered by free speech?

Are real world un-licensed and un-authorized pharmacies allowed to operate in US states?

Can just anyone open a storefront and start selling prescription drugs to the public? or does the government require pharmacies to be licensed?

If the government does require real world pharmacies to be licensed, then how is this any different from Google requiring them to be licensed?

Expect to see a lot of changes with google with the impending IPO.

Exactly

IPO?

I suspect Google will start to clean up it's business much like eBay did years ago.

There was a time when eBay was a free-for-all. Sell your kidneys, sell your little brother, sell whatever....eventually eBay set down some rules and didn't allow certain things. Google will probably follow a similar route.

Initial Public Offering