Google Takes the High Road

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (TheStreet) -- The protest for change in China's Internet policies puts a polish on Google's (GOOG) image.

Claiming its network in China was attacked -- and that the email accounts of two human rights advocates were hacked -- Google is reviewing whether to stay in the country.

Judging from the company's public comments, it's clear that Google wants to open up discussions and influence change in China's Internet controls. Until now, Google has tolerated the censorship and surveillance of network traffic that have been conditions of its participation in the rapid growth of China's Internet market.

But the latest violation, specifically the snooping upon individuals, has highlighted a much bigger problem, and Google wants the world to know about it.

"We have taken the unusual step of sharing information about these attacks with a broad audience not just because of the security and human rights implications of what we have unearthed, but also because this information goes to the heart of a much bigger global debate about freedom of speech," wrote Google's chief attorney Dave Drummond on his company's blog Tuesday.

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