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macintologist · Feb 21, 2006, 07:06 AM

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...74615945369026

analogika · Feb 21, 2006, 08:20 AM

Freedom and Liberty™.

I, for one, welcome our new overlords.

Y3a · Feb 21, 2006, 08:46 AM

See this?

http://video.google.com/support/bin/...y?answer=26592

Love Calm Quiet · Feb 21, 2006, 09:20 AM

What good news...
It's not the whole of America that's being censored.
Just the realm of OS X.

demograph68 · Feb 21, 2006, 09:44 AM

I can still watch it though from the "put on site" html.

turtle777 · Feb 21, 2006, 10:09 AM

Yawn

Eug Wanker · Feb 21, 2006, 11:25 AM

Works fine on my Mac. I'm in Canada.

Actually, it doesn't really work fine. I can scroll through it but it won't play on its own. Google hates this Cube for some reason, cuz I get the same problem with other Google videos, but only on the Cube and no other Macs. Dunno why.

NYCFarmboy · Feb 21, 2006, 11:29 AM

google is soooooooooooo 2003.

patiently waiting on the next search engine.

Millennium · Feb 21, 2006, 12:46 PM

On whose authority is this video not playable in the US? Is this given force of law, or has Google decided for some reason that this should not be played?

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 21, 2006, 12:47 PM

Ya works fine in Canada.

So much for land of the free

Millennium · Feb 21, 2006, 01:10 PM

I can verify that international proxies work: try 212.209.129.230 port 80. All told, the video is rather unexciting: a nighttime shot from a distance of a weapons cache that gets blown up. Not the kind of thing I would think that a government would be interested in censoring.

This is why I've demanded an explanation from Google. I've also posted to Slashdot, who I figure has a 99% chance of picking this story up. Once word of this gets out there, Google will explain itself. So much for 'do no evil'.

It's possible -likely, in fact- that this was a decision on Google's part, with no intervention from the US government. If this is true, then there is no censorship, but Google will have permanently lost my business. If, on the other hand, there are orders from the US government to censor this video, then something much darker is afoot.

meelk · Feb 21, 2006, 01:22 PM

wow, put on a tinfoil hat much? do you listen to yourself? I'll probably be banned for this, but you sound like you seriously need some medication Millennium. Just fyi, the guys at google have already told the US goverment to f*ck off, I really doubt they give a **** what you think.

Troll · Feb 21, 2006, 01:32 PM

Plays in France

itistoday · 02:02 PM

Let's try spreading the word, previous efforts on Digg seem to have failed for some reason, hopefully the MacNN community can help digg this story to the front page.

Edit: I was unaware of this, and it seems many others here too, but apparently you have the option of disallowing certain countries from seeing a video when you upload it. Rather silly "feature" if you ask me, and at the very least google should tell you if that's the case (versus outright censorship). Can anyone verify this?

hyteckit · Feb 21, 2006, 01:48 PM

Haha... I was trying to view the same video yesterday. I was like WTF!!!

Person Man · Feb 21, 2006, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by Millennium

I can verify that international proxies work: try 212.209.129.230 port 80. All told, the video is rather unexciting: a nighttime shot from a distance of a weapons cache that gets blown up. Not the kind of thing I would think that a government would be interested in censoring.

This is why I've demanded an explanation from Google. I've also posted to Slashdot, who I figure has a 99% chance of picking this story up. Once word of this gets out there, Google will explain itself. So much for 'do no evil'.

It's possible -likely, in fact- that this was a decision on Google's part, with no intervention from the US government. If this is true, then there is no censorship, but Google will have permanently lost my business. If, on the other hand, there are orders from the US government to censor this video, then something much darker is afoot.

Apparently when you post a video to Google video you can specify which countries you don't want it played in. Perhaps Google needs to make that more visible, by saying "The poster of this video has specified that this video not be played in your country."

Rolling Bones · Feb 21, 2006, 02:28 PM

Plays for me in Canada too.

Neat...exploding stuffs in total darkness.

baw · Feb 21, 2006, 05:38 PM

PookJP · Feb 21, 2006, 06:08 PM

Just got the message baw got. Connecting from Los Angeles.

Albert Pujols · Feb 21, 2006, 07:00 PM

I got the same as baw. Sounds like the video is lame anyway.

Severed Hand of Skywalker · Feb 21, 2006, 07:03 PM

Ha ha, that provider doesn't like you.

turtle777 · Feb 21, 2006, 07:09 PM

Case closed.

His Dudeness · Feb 22, 2006, 05:42 AM

Originally Posted by NYCFarmboy

google is soooooooooooo 2003.

patiently waiting on the next search engine.

Dude, try Ask Jeeves! It's tha greatest!

Millennium · Feb 22, 2006, 07:32 AM

Well, at least they've decided to make it clearer.

Next question: who posted the thing? Why did they decide to block US users? Why does Google even include such capabilities?

Andy8 · Feb 22, 2006, 08:02 AM

Plays in Hong Kong

Kevin · Feb 22, 2006, 08:21 AM

Originally Posted by Severed Hand of Skywalker

Ha ha, that provider doesn't like you.

Here is betting the provider is some hateful intolerant bigot that has emotional problems he takes out on various groups he deems below him.

There are a lot of people in here like this as well.

demograph68 · Feb 22, 2006, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by Kevin

There are a lot of people in here like this as well.

YOU!

Kevin · Feb 22, 2006, 08:34 AM

BZZT no cigar.

I don't dislike or hate anyone. I don't feel anyone is beneath me.

I believe we are all on the same boat.

AKA I am not better than anyone else.

demograph68 · Feb 22, 2006, 08:38 AM

You don't think you're better than me? I think you're selling yourself too short.

itistoday · Feb 22, 2006, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by Millennium

Why does Google even include such capabilities?

I was wondering that myself, and I truly have no idea. It doesn't really make sense, and doesn't really do anything to stop a determined individual from viewing it.

Xeo · Feb 22, 2006, 09:39 AM

I think it's interesting how quick they changed that message. Including the words "not Google" to make it uber clear. Still, the question still remains as to why you can block countries in the first place.

Yose · Feb 22, 2006, 10:03 AM

Is this is the global equivalent of being left out of the "cool" crowd in elementary school?

Hey everyone, check this out. Oh, but YOU can't.
But I want to!
You can't!
Why?
'cuz.

Isn't it interesting that someone is exercising the ability to deny this to people in America. Maybe it's some protest because "America" seemingly imposes herself onto everyone else and this is their way of digging back. Maybe it's sour grapes.

Whatever.

MinM · Feb 22, 2006, 10:25 AM

This video plays fine for me in NY, USA.

So it's not censored.