Google Goes the Privacy Route for YouTube in South Korea

Last month, quoted as saying, "Google Korea has ... always (taken) the stance that Google respects local law/regulation but at the same time we continue trying to promote freedom of speech on the Internet."

Ultimately, Google has decided to block uploads and comments to Korean YouTube users. As a workaround, they are suggesting users change their preferences to a different country's version of YouTube if they want to participate in the community.

"We concluded in the end that it is impossible to provide benefits to internet users while observing this country's law because the law does not fall in line with Google's principles," Rachel Whetstone, Google's vice president of Global Communications & Public Affairs is
Either way, Google is sure to get a lot less flack for this than if they had gone the other way. Privacy advocates are often focused on Google, and they would've had a field day with this one.