Holding Google's Feet to the Fire

Thompson wants the Internet search giant to fight for freedom of speech by refusing to censor itself and by using "all legal means to resist demands for censorship" from others. In other words: If you want us to block sites, take us to court and force us to do it.

But it's not just about China. Thompson's motion names Belarus, Burma, China, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam as countries where the government seeks to restrict citizens' access to information.

Oh yes, and it's a live issue. Thailand and Turkey took censorship steps against Google's YouTube site just last week. Thompson also wants Google to protect those of its users who live in Internet-restrictive countries, where "political speech can be treated as a crime by the legal system," by storing their data on servers abroad.

It's not too much to ask. Even the motion calls these "minimum standards" to help protect freedom of access to the Internet and couches the demands as a "request" to management. Thompson wants the company to act responsibly and within the law.

Nonetheless, Google management is opposing the motion and urging shareholders to back them up. Top dogs Sergey Brin, Larry Page and Eric Schmidt have made more than $30 billion among them in less than 10 years thanks to freedom here in America. But when it comes to exporting that freedom, forget about it.