Google's threat to pull out of China after reports of cyber attacks aimed at the accounts of Chinese human rights activists is commendable make no mistake about that, but it is perhaps not as risky for business as some are suggesting. With Chinese market leader Baidu claiming 60% of the power it would perhaps be a blessing in disguise for Google to get out of the losing battle (Baidu is heavily connected with the Chinese government so chances of defeating it appear slim).
What the whole thing does again raise though is the issue of censorship and why search engines are fast becoming a thing of the past. People do not want 'higher powers' deciding what they can and can't view and Google's deal in 2006 to agree to the Chinese government strict rules has always been uncomfortable. But even Google themselves are accused of censoring their own search results.
The web is a free source and shouldn't be controlled by dictators. This is why, to me the semantic web is so appealing. Software doesn't censor, it simply finds what you're looking for, as requested, with no ulterior motive. That is the future, and I'm sure Google know it.
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