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> How long do you think it would continue to be illegal to mention Naziism in Germany if Twitter, Facebook, Google, et al, decided to boycott the entire country

> How long do you think it would continue to be illegal to mention Naziism in Germany if Twitter, Facebook, Google, et al, decided to boycott the entire country? Probably longer than it would take to develop local clones of those services. As a side note, I do not think it would be appropriate for a foreign corporation to try to influence national politics of a free and democratic country like Germany. While it's not entirely rational, especially an American corporation. IMVHO Twitter, Google et al. should conform to the law, it's up to German citizens to change the rules accordingly to their will and values.

drcube 15y ago
You can only take this so far. What if your company were required to kill innocent people in order to operate legally in another country? Would you do it, lest you be seen as meddling in local affairs? Saying "I won't be part of your censorship regime" is not the same thing as trying to influence another country's democratic politics. They can take what I have to offer or leave it, but I'll be damned if I'll sacrifice my integrity for a dollar. This is probably the reason I haven't ever run a company. Yet...
- spindritf 15y ago
  You can also only take it so far in the other direction -- does every corporation have to be a supporter of completely unrestricted free speech? Is it wrong to provide Germans with your service on the terms set largely by the Germans themselves? Do you think foreign companies should also try to circumvent privacy laws they find unreasonable for example? Of course I would not run a business in a country where innocent people are being intentionally killed by the government. Not even on principle, thought that too, but simply because of the risk to me personally, my employees and general uncertainty.
  - tikhonj 15y ago
    There is a difference between circumventing privacy laws and simply not operating in a country. While I would certainly not want a company attempting to get around laws, I see nothing wrong with a company not operating in a country because of those laws.

drcube 15y ago

You can only take this so far. What if your company were required to kill innocent people in order to operate legally in another country? Would you do it, lest you be seen as meddling in local affairs? Saying "I won't be part of your censorship regime" is not the same thing as trying to influence another country's democratic politics. They can take what I have to offer or leave it, but I'll be damned if I'll sacrifice my integrity for a dollar. This is probably the reason I haven't ever run a company. Yet...

spindritf 15y ago
You can also only take it so far in the other direction -- does every corporation have to be a supporter of completely unrestricted free speech? Is it wrong to provide Germans with your service on the terms set largely by the Germans themselves? Do you think foreign companies should also try to circumvent privacy laws they find unreasonable for example? Of course I would not run a business in a country where innocent people are being intentionally killed by the government. Not even on principle, thought that too, but simply because of the risk to me personally, my employees and general uncertainty.
- tikhonj 15y ago
  There is a difference between circumventing privacy laws and simply not operating in a country. While I would certainly not want a company attempting to get around laws, I see nothing wrong with a company not operating in a country because of those laws.