Re: <nettime> tensions within the bay area elites

[Hans de Zwart <hans.dezwart@bof.nl>]

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Hey Geert,

The tension between the Bay area elites is less interesting than the
grassroots unrest from the 'data-havenots' who are slowly starting to
feel uncomfortable with the level of governance/jurisdiction that Google
is having in their lives:
https://kevinroseisaterribleperson.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/home-demo-at-google-vcs-house-on-potrero-hill-sf/
http://www.theverge.com/2013/12/20/5231758/protesters-target-silicon-valley-shuttles-smash-google-bus-window

We are seeing the very early signs of what I am sure will soon be a much
more widespread discomfort with Google's practices. Cory is just more
attuned than most to these weak signals (and so are you probably,
hence your question).

I've spoken about some of these issues at the recent "Security in Times
of Surveillance" conference in Eindhoven. Video of my talk is here:
http://www.win.tue.nl/eipsi/surveillance/zwart.mp4

Just look at the graph displaying Google's DC lobbying investment and
you will instantly realise that Google is not the same Google that it
was a decade ago.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/how-google-is-transforming-power-and-politicsgoogle-once-disdainful-of-lobbying-now-a-master-of-washington-influence/2014/04/12/51648b92-b4d3-11e3-8cb6-284052554d74_story.html

Cheers,

Hans

On 11-05-14 15:57, Geert Lovink wrote:
> Dear nettimers,
> 
> I know, there are tons of examples of this. I just want to know
> more what you think of it, in particular if you happen to live
> there, or come from the Bay Area.
> 
> To me, it is somehow super clear that Facebook is evil. Not hard
> to understand. But Google? Why are tensions rising so high lately
> around them? Look at the tone of the Cory Doctorow blog post to
> Boing Boingâ Don't get me wrong. But have they really gone down
> lately? In my humble view they are as evil as were a decade ago...
> What happened? Have we changed?
> 
> Yours, Geert
> 
> --
> 
> Eric Schmidt, war crimes apologist and colossal hypocrite
> 
> Cory Doctorow at 6:00 pm Wed, May 7, 2014
> 
> Just a reminder that Google CEO Eric Schmidt is a colossal
> hypocrite and an apologist for war crimes:
> 
> âSome people will cheer for the end of control that connectivity
> and data-rich environments engender. They are the people who
> believe that data wants to be free and that greater transparency in
> all things will bring about a more just, safe and free world. For a
> time, WikiLeaks' cofounder Julian Assange was the world's most
> visible ambassador for this cause, but supporters of WikiLeaks and
> the values it champions come in all stripes, including right-wing
> libertarians, far-left liberals and apolitical technology
> enthusiasts, While they don't always agree on tactics, to them,
> data permanence is a failsafe for society. Despite some of the
> known negative consequences of this movements (threats to
> individual security, ruined reputations and diplomatic chaos), some
> free-information activists believe the absence of a delete button
> ultimately strengthens humanity's progress toward greater equality,
> productivity and self-determination. We believe, however, that this
> is a dangerous model, especially given that there is always going
> to be  someone with bad judgment who releases information that will
> get people killed. This is why governments have systems and
> valuable regulations in place that, while imperfect, should
> continue to govern who gets to make the decision about what is
> classified and what is not.â
> 
> - Google CEO Eric Schmidt, on whistleblowers, from "The New
> Digital Age," written with Jared Cohen, another Googler.
> 
> This is the man who said, "If you have something that you don't
> want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first
> place" (but flipped out when Cnet performed the most perfunctory of
> doxxings on him), but whose position, when it comes to leaks
> detailing everything from the indiscriminate killing of civilians
> to criminal mass-surveillance of whole nations (and massive
> cyberattacks on his own company) is that grownups know what they're
> doing and it's not up to the "far left," and "right wing
> libertarians" to publish the truth and hold powerful criminals to
> account.
> 
> In short: if Google outs you through a "Real Names" policy on G+, 
> maybe you just shouldn't be gay, or maybe you shouldn't be hiding 
> that fact from your violent and intolerant neighbors. But if a 
> whistleblower or a reporter outs an elected official for gross 
> corruption and war crimes, she's an irresponsible child who's
> taken the law into her own hands and should know better.
> 
> 
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- -- 
Hans de Zwart

Bits of Freedom | https://bof.nl
hans.dezwart@bof.nl | 4CB931E5 (https://bof.nl/openpgp)
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