In The News

Iran to Suspend Google’s Email

Christopher Rhoads, Chip Cummins, and Jessica E. Vascellaro February 11, 2010
On the eve of celebrations, and antigovernment protests, to mark the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, Iran announced the suspension of Gmail, Google’s email service, along with plans for a new, national email service in its stead. Following last year’s disputed presidential election, activists harnessed social media, both for organizing within the country and broadcasting news outside...

One World, Two Universes

Nayan Chanda February 1, 2010
The tussle between Google and China is laying bare a strained relationship between China and the Western world that had previously been covered up by the financial crisis. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's recent speech on Internet freedom, though it did not specifically mention China, marked a shift for the US administration in emphasizing human rights. Western corporations are...

In Digital Combat, U.S. Finds No Easy Deterrent

John Markoff, David E. Sanger, and Thom Shanker January 27, 2010
When considering the prospect of a cyberterrorism, defense officials are forced to acknowledge that the enemy holds the cards of “stealth, anonymity and unpredictability.” Even if the general location of an attack’s origin can be determined, it is practically impossible to discover whether it was commercially, politically, or individually motivated. As such, it is difficult to say when a military...

Hungry for New Content, Google Tries to Grow Its Own in Africa

Noam Cohen January 26, 2010
Google grew because it had the best search engine and content to be found. To continue to grow, Google needs to locate and provide more searchable information. Nowhere is this more evident than in Africa, where Google struggles to find online content. Consequently, the company has sponsored a contest to encourage students in Tanzania and Kenya to create articles for Wikipedia in Swahili, a second...

The Internet: A Missing Link

Kathrin Hille January 22, 2010
Despite predictions that its spread would bring Chinese society more in tune with the West, the Internet in China “is growing less like the Internet in the rest of the world, not more like it.” Because Western companies like Google, hoping to foster freedom through information, fail to account for Chinese tastes, such as an affinity for playing online games rather than looking for news by...

China and Google: Searching For Trouble – Part I

Jonathan Fenby January 19, 2010
Google’s recent dispute with China is not just about internet censorship; it’s also about China’s evolving role on the world stage, according to journalist and author Jonathan Fenby. It is unlikely Beijing will allow citizens to access banned Internet sites through Google – a condition the company demanded for staying in China. There are also concerns about Internet security in general, but the...

Software Makers See a Market in Censorship

Dan Levin January 19, 2010
Google may be considering pulling out from China but makers of software that allow Internet users to circumvent censorship are finding their business improving. Individuals in countries as diverse as China, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, even Australia – all of which ban or censor Internet sites to some degree – want the freedom to explore the online world. Virtual private networks (VPN), which...