For many, the Internet search giant Google ” whose corporate motto is “Don’t Be Evil” ” has been a shining example of what an corporation should be like. In light of Google’s recent actions, however, it seems that the company needs to be reminded of its own philosophy.

To be clear, the online search engine leader does more good than bad. From consistently charging the path to free global information to being the only corporation with the ability to take on Microsoft, Google more often than not behaves in a responsible and principled manner.

One of its most admirable actions is its continued refusal to comply with the frighteningly “Big Brother-esque” subpoena issued by the Department of Justice that would require the company to turnover a broad range of material from its databases, including 1 million random Web addresses and records of all Google searches from any one-week period.

Google hit the nail on the head when it told the federal government that “”one can envision scenarios where queries alone could reveal identifying information about a specific Google user, which is another outcome that Google cannot accept.” Yahoo, MSN and America Online have already turned over similar information to the government.

Yet just last week Google stated it would comply with the Chinese government and self-censor its Chinese language searches in return for better access to the China’s enormous market. Google’s willingness to censor itself is even more disheartening when considering that this week the company announced it would lead industry opposition to new proposals by the European Commission to regulate online content.

Right now Google is walking a slippery slope between being the company that says “you don’t have to be evil to make money” and being the company that does exactly that.

Hopefully this hypocritical behavior is not a sign of things to come. With hope Google does not become a company willing to do evil to make money.