Google has come out all guns blazing, addressing all those governments that have been asking or pressurizing Google to remove data from the internet. Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) published a transparency report that contains information about the requests for data removal made by different countries.
Google also attended to those countries that were putting pressure on the company just because it had material on its search engine regarding their secret agencies. The requests came from all over the world – from Saudi Arabia to The United States itself.
These ‘requests’ were subtle do-it-or-else threats according to Google. Google claimed that it didn’t entertain anyone no matter how powerful they were. Google said it received over 32,000 requests in the past 6 months, which is more than 15 percent increase from the previous 6 months. Google blamed some countries saying that they were trying to expand their surveillance beyond their jurisdiction/border.
Google also claimed that the company denied only those requests that were unwarranted. If Google found any request that was reasonable, unfairly damaging someone’s reputation or was found to be false; such data was instantly removed from its database. However, many requests were plain threats just because nefarious secrets about certain individuals or big governments had come to light.
Some countries have accused Google of being biased. They claim that Google is friendlier with those countries that have done the company favors in one way or other. Google is deleting or filtering only their unwanted data while refusing to even listen to other countries that can’t do Google a ‘favor’.
Google Inc. rejected these allegations by calling them baseless and bitter. According to the company, it denies only those requests that are illogical; the company also said that it is not Google’s responsibility if the number of requested accepted is less than the number of requests rejected.
Google pointed out that 40 percent of these requests come from the U.S.A; therefore if there had been any case of favoritism then Google’s homeland would not have been among the countries that are in line to have their information removed from Google database.
Most of these requests are regarding YouTube videos about ‘important’ people caught on camera in compromising situations. Some requests were targeted at Google Books, which apparently had ‘defaming’ statements about a certain government employee.
Google emphasized on the fact that these governments are violating the public’s right to information; the company says that it is Google’s duty to deliver news to its readers and audience.
Google has shown a lot of character and courage by publishing this transparency report, which has created a buzz all across the globe. Its obvious many countries will line up against Google to take revenge. The process has already started; Google has started to receive all sorts of law suit threats.
Google says the company is not afraid of such threats and will stand up for the freedom of speech and for public’s right to information. Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) may just win some brownie points from its users for this step after the major hacking incident.
