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Just a guess, but perhaps being extremely rich and extremely powerful gives you a relatively small social circle, considering the grand scheme of humanity at al

by JackCh 8y ago

Just a guess, but perhaps being extremely rich and extremely powerful gives you a relatively small social circle, considering the grand scheme of humanity at almost 7.5 billion people. Consider also the allegations of Google being a de facto branch of the state department in When Google Met Wikileaks (2011). It may be the case these people are all friends or acquaintances and enjoy the opportunity to work with each other.

Bartweiss 8y ago
I still get a bit tense when I remember reading The New Digital Age. (Written, not coincidentally, by Schmidt and Jared Cohen - ex State Department staffer, current Google visionary.) It is, to an impressive degree, a love letter to the US government. It shows absolute faith in the ability of technology experts to help remake the world, spreading information worldwide for the benefit of all - but only the right information. As Assange put it in a cutting review: "...this isn’t a book designed to be read. It is a major declaration designed to foster alliances." I don't think it's particularly hard to understand Google's high-level engagement with the US government; it represents a chance to diversify revenue while supporting ideological positions Schmidt has openly embraced for years. Nor is it surprising that government-aligned leadership is facing dissent in a professional that's historically been somewhere between suspicious of and allergic to government and surveillance.
- pofilat 8y ago
  Jared Cohen is the driver behind YouTube censorship and making Google/Internet an arm of the US government's propaganda effort. Schmidt has been trying to push his way into world politics as an unelected guru for about a decade. https://www.wired.com/2016/09/inside-googles-internet-justice-league-ai-powered-war-trolls/ https://www.wired.com/2016/09/inside-googles-internet-justic...

by JackCh 8y ago

Bartweiss 8y ago

I still get a bit tense when I remember reading The New Digital Age. (Written, not coincidentally, by Schmidt and Jared Cohen - ex State Department staffer, current Google visionary.) It is, to an impressive degree, a love letter to the US government. It shows absolute faith in the ability of technology experts to help remake the world, spreading information worldwide for the benefit of all - but only the right information. As Assange put it in a cutting review: "...this isn’t a book designed to be read. It is a major declaration designed to foster alliances." I don't think it's particularly hard to understand Google's high-level engagement with the US government; it represents a chance to diversify revenue while supporting ideological positions Schmidt has openly embraced for years. Nor is it surprising that government-aligned leadership is facing dissent in a professional that's historically been somewhere between suspicious of and allergic to government and surveillance.

pofilat 8y ago
Jared Cohen is the driver behind YouTube censorship and making Google/Internet an arm of the US government's propaganda effort. Schmidt has been trying to push his way into world politics as an unelected guru for about a decade. https://www.wired.com/2016/09/inside-googles-internet-justice-league-ai-powered-war-trolls/ https://www.wired.com/2016/09/inside-googles-internet-justic...