Way to go! Google won't help Rudd Government build the Great Firewall of Australia

Google Australia's head of policy, Iarla Flynn, said the company had a bias in favour of freedom of expression and Senator Conroy's comparisons between how Australia and China deal with access to information were not ''helpful or relevant''.

Google has threatened to pull out of China, partly owing to continuing requests for it to censor material.

YouTube's rules forbid certain videos that would be classified RC, such as sex, violence, bestiality and child pornography. But the RC classification extends to more controversial content such as information on euthanasia, material about safer drug use and how to commit minor crimes.

Google said the topics were featured in YouTube videos and it refused to censor them.

''The scope of RC is simply too broad and can raise genuine questions about restrictions on access to information,'' Mr Flynn said. ''RC includes the grey realms of material instructing in any crime from graffiti to politically controversial crimes such as euthanasia, and exposing these topics to public debate is vital for democracy.''