June 27, 2009
Google chief: Iran can't control the net
Google chief executive, Eric Schmidt, speaking at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, said that it was at their "peril" that regimes such as Iran attempt to impose blackouts on media such as TV, internet, radio and mobile phones. The Guardian reports.
He added that the search giant, which owns video sharing website YouTube, always tried to explain to regimes that restrict communication that, ultimately, attempts to isolate a population fail.
"We have lots of lawyers, lawyers in every one of these countries," Schmidt said. "We explain if they do this [block freedom of speech and communication] what will happen. Sometimes they moderate their behaviour and sometimes not. If they don't listen to us it is at their peril."
Speaking to MediaGuardian.co.uk following the seminar, Schmidt expanded on this point: "By 'peril' I mean it is what the citizens will do, citizens can no longer be restricted by the kind of strategies evil dictatorships do... you can't keep people in the dark."
Image from Wired.
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