Google’s chairman, Eric Schmidt, recently penned down a new book ‘The New Digital Age’, together with Jared Cohen. In the book, Schmidt explores the future of technology and the uses it can be put to. The founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, has now slammed the book, calling it somewhat of a propaganda tool for the U.S. government.
In a rather longish op-ed pieces written for the The New York Times, Assange has stated that the book is a clear proof of the close ties between Google and the U.S. State Department. He substantiates this claim by citing that Jared Cohen, the co-author of the book, is a former advisor for the likes of Condoleeza Rice and Hillary Clinton.
While the tech world was quick to dismiss Assange’s contention, we can’t ignore them altogether. It is pertinent to note here that whereas Schmidt did criticize the privacy violation of dictatorial and oppressive regimes around the globe, he quietly glided over similar practices being perpetuated by the U.S. government itself.
In his op-ed, Assange mentions, “The New Digital Age” is, beyond anything else, an attempt by Google to position itself as America’s geopolitical visionary — the one company that can answer the question “Where should America go?” It is not surprising that a respectable cast of the world’s most famous warmongers has been trotted out to give its stamp of approval to this enticement to Western soft power. The acknowledgments give pride of place to Henry Kissinger, who along with Tony Blair and the former C.I.A. director Michael Hayden provided advance praise for the book.”
It is true indeed that while Google’s rather positive role in the tech arena can’t be downplayed, Schmidt didn’t make any direct shot at the U.S. government even when the government is adamant on violating all basic privacy rights of the users.
Source: New York Times
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I know some people who obsessed by net and social networks. It’s a pity. Network is great and powerful invention