Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates today said the Internet needs to thrive in China as an engine of free speech and described official online censorship by Beijing as "very limited."
Asked in an interview on ABC's Good Morning America about Google's dispute with China, Gates said the Internet is subject to different kinds of censorship around the world but has proved a consistent success at promoting openness and the exchange of ideas.
"You've got to decide: Do you want to obey the laws of the countries you're in, or not? If not, you may not end up doing business there," Gates, the world's richest man, said without mentioning Google by name.
"The Chinese efforts to censor the Internet have been very limited. It's easy to go around it, and so I think keeping the internet thriving there is very important," he said.
The interview coincided with efforts by China to defend its curbs on the internet nearly two weeks after search engine giant Google said it wanted to stop censoring its Chinese Google.cn website. The company said it was alarmed by online hacking attacks from within China.
Google's complaints have received backing from the White House. But China has countered with accusations that Washington was using the internet to support subversion in Iran.
Gates, 54, who co-founded computer software giant Microsoft, remains the company's chairman but tends to focus his attention on the philanthropic activities of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which he runs with his wife Melinda and father William Gates Sr.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments