Just before I setup my google search preferences to “No filtering”

(yes I confess, because I’m a big boy already and I want to see those adult pics if they come up for mainstream searches

Then I saw this:

Note: You have selected the least restrictive filter for your results. Images not compliant with German law will still be filtered. You may, however, see some images that you consider inappropriate for minors. If minors are using your browser we suggest enabling strict filtering.

Now this is interesting, because

a) I am from Austria – and don’t give a damn about german law here (just like everone else in Austria)
b) I setup my language preferences to english
c) I was not aware that Google freaks about linking to illegal content – which might be seen as shady, but then it’s still a search engine, not a censor engine as in China

Or did Google start to obey some specific local laws in Germany, as they did in China some time ago filtering out anti-governmental sites?

Definately there are a lot of different opinions on these practices lately – and IMHO it’s a bad thing if Google starts filtering results based on local law… well – but then it already started filtering stuff based on US law (i.e. the DMCA, even if that DOES NOT apply to anyone in Europe)

On the other hand crimes like child pornography are worth filtering… I understand Google not wanting to be evil – but the discussion already arised last February – WHO defines what is child porn – google or the experts?

I don’t really like Google applying foreign laws to me.
But obiviously they started to do so since February… and I support any traffic filters that protect children… but again – who “validates” Google’s decisions on what to censor?

It’s pretty much “George W. Bush”-Like, who applies – well, not law, but anything – to any foreign countries in his stupid to pose as a good president and save the world from all the terror except the US terror…

What do you think?