In The News

Petraeus Condemns US Church's Plan to Burn Korans

Julian E. Barnes, Matthew Rosenberg September 7, 2010
If one needed an example of the world’s interconnectedness and the internet’s ability to empower individuals, the story of a tiny church in Florida will do. The church’s plans to burn Korans on the anniversary of the September 11th attacks captured the world’s attention and, most surprisingly, that of the US commander of international forces in Afghanistan. US military leaders typically refrain...

Google, Skype Targeted in India Security Crackdown

Erika Kinetz September 3, 2010
India is asking all companies that provide encrypted communications to place servers inside its borders so security officials can monitor user data. Increasingly, countries make demands on foreign firms producing goods and services desired by their citizens. “India seems to be gaining confidence in its own attractiveness as a market, taking a tougher stance with international companies, not just...

Silicon Valley Expats Spur Innovation in India

Sean Randolph September 2, 2010
As the US tech industry saw rapid growth during the 1990s, immigrating students and workers from Asia heeded innovation’s call. Engineers and programmers from India settled in Silicon Valley and enjoyed immediate success. About one out of six tech startups was launched by immigrants from India. Now some of these tech workers return to India, explains author and trade specialist Sean Randolph....

New Dissent in Japan Is Loudly Anti-Foreign

Martin Fackler August 31, 2010
As Japan’s economy stagnates, young men stuck in menial jobs use the internet to plan demonstrations against foreign influences. Their “main purpose seems to be venting frustration, both about Japan’s diminished stature and in their own personal economic difficulties,” explains Martin Fackler for the New York Times. The discontents resent rising unemployment and lack of global respect for Japan...

Intelligence Loopholes

Nayan Chanda August 30, 2010
Confidential messages have served as a basis for long-distance trades for thousands of years. Long ago a list of contents was baked into clay tablets that accompanied shipments. Upon arrival, the tablets were cracked open to assure complete delivery. The modern BlackBerry phone, with countless more messages over longer distances, also provides confidentiality. As secure phones become more popular...

The Two-Tier Internet: Fighting for Control of the Web's Future

Frank Dohmen, Martin U. Müller, Hilmar Schmundt August 27, 2010
Profit margins have shrunk for internet providers. Attracted by low prices and rapid growth, consumers rely on cloud computing, which uses central servers for storage of treasured documents – yet few understand internet technology or long-term maintenance needs. A recent release from Google and Verizon recommended regulations, calling “for governments to leave it up to the market to determine...

Google, CIA Invest in “Future” of Web Monitoring

Noah Shachtman August 19, 2010
Spies have long studied publicly available news reports or cultural events to gather data. Recorded Future is a new firm that tries the same with the internet, explains Noah Shachtman for Wired magazine, by analyzing connections, plotting momentum and trends, and predicting the future while studying websites, blogs or Twitter accounts. Google has joined the Central Intelligence Agency in...