Free speech 1, Obama’s Sharia enforcement 0. These demonstrations have been orchestrated to compel the West to abandon the freedom of speech, and it is as gratifying (and surprising) to see Google stand up for freedom as it was distressing to see the President of the United States rushing to deep-six the First Amendment. “Google rejects White House request to pull Mohammad film clip,” by Gerry Shih for Reuters, September 14:
(Reuters) – Google Inc rejected a request by the White House on Friday to reconsider its decision to keep online a controversial YouTube movie clip that has ignited anti-American protests in the Middle East.
The Internet company said it was censoring the video in India and Indonesia after blocking it on Wednesday in Egypt and Libya, where U.S. embassies have been stormed by protestors enraged over depiction of the Prophet Mohammad as a fraud and philanderer….
Google said was further restricting the clip to comply with local law rather than as a response to political pressure.
“We’ve restricted access to it in countries where it is illegal such as India and Indonesia, as well as in Libya and Egypt, given the very sensitive situations in these two countries,” the company said. “This approach is entirely consistent with principles we first laid out in 2007.”
White House officials had asked Google earlier on Friday to reconsider whether the video had violated YouTube’s terms of service. The guidelines can be viewed here
Google said on Wednesday that the video was within its guidelines….