Google censors staff?

In a move being widely interpretated as censorship of staff, a critical blog started by a new employee at Google has been removed.

As covered by The FULL Mark Jen Google Blog - The Blog Google tried to Gag, Mark Jen was - until recently - employed by Microsoft, working as a Software Development Engineer on the company’s Indigo search project. In his last post on his Microsoft blog - what happened to MarkJen? - dated January 18th, he announces he’s moving to Google.

Apparently, he then started up a new blog at Blogpsot using Google’s blogger service, where he made critical remarks about:

• Google’s infrastructure
• company disorganistion
• benefits packages
• fixation on worker productivity

The last post was made on January 25th, after which his blog suddenly disappeared.

However, Yahoo! retains a cache, and Bloglines also has a copy of his XML file for public viewing:

99zeros - Yahoo! cache
ninetyninezeros at Bloglines

While the events may be regarded as a slight embarrassment to Google, it remains refreshing to see Google employing a human face, when the company is otherwise very calculating in what it presents to public view.

EDIT: Mark Jen’s blog has returned, albeit with some apparent financial information removed: 99zeros