Google: Freedom of speech afforded by the Internet may go away in certain countries

The company’s executive chairman Eric Schmidt said more nations might begin censoring the Internet in the same way they censor television.

Ragan Insider Premium Content
Ragan Insider Content

Unfortunately, this trend may not continue.

The Edmonton Journal reports:

“Internet giant Google’s tussles with some governments over Internet censorship could get worse, executive chairman Eric Schmidt said on Monday, adding he feared his own colleagues faced mounting danger of occasional arrest and torture. After the ‘Arab spring’ saw revolutionary crowds largely organized over the Internet topple leaders in Tunisia and Egypt, governments in other authoritarian states have moved to try to lock down Internet dissent—although with mixed success.”

Schmidt, speaking in Dublin at an event organized by Google, said regulation of the Internet in certain countries could become similar to that of TV.

To read the full story, log in.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today

Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.