2. Article Recap
Written by Doug Bolton, “Google reveals plans to fight terrorism by sending
would-be extremists to anti-radicalisation website”
Follows the efforts of various social media companies to combat extremism on
the web (i.e. ISIS), namely Google, Twitter, and Facebook
Google - redirection
Twitter - manage tweets through moderation
Facebook - manage posts through moderation
Google and Facebook refused to divulge how many employees deal with
extremism, but Twitter employs over 100 people to combat extremism
3. Globalization
Google is an international triumph of a company and nearly essential at
this point in today’s society.
Over 100 countries have access to the internet and Google
4,000 searches per second
3.5 BILLION PER DAY
1.2 TRILLION PER YEAR
Google is a global superpower that is constantly reinventing itself in order to fit
this global scale.
4. What is Google?
Essentially Google is search engine for browsing the web; however, it has
become so much more than that.
File storage
Maps
Youtube
Google+
Advertisements and Business
Google continually grows and grows into much more than
5. How has it changed?
Originally a simple search engine
Now a powerhouse spanning many different technologies, ideas, and fields
Become a booming business and organization as it’s grown, one of the
strongest in the world.
6. How is it changing?
Constantly trying to change it’s UI and design in various different ways
From the search engine to Youtube
Always trying new ideas, seemingly would rather try to change “for the better”.
Does not usually follow the “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” motto
Wants to appeal to a wider audience, and become usable by it’s entire user base
EVEN possibly at the cost of some of it’s current user base
7. How do these changes reflect Google’s globalization?
As stated, Google is available across the globe, and therefore has a priority to
reach everybody with the way the company is run.
With so many people utilizing it, you have to be careful not to focus too much on
a singular group
Google always wants to reach new levels of innovation and change
Constantly trying to reach everybody, but sometimes they reach nobody with a
change
Change isn’t always good, but Google is willing to take that risk
8. Rapidly evolving
As Google evolves, so does the analysis of their user base.
Data mining has become a big part of the company
Finding different information about users in various ways
9. It isn’t just the searches...
They don’t just track search history
Recommendations
Tailored Advertising
Facial Recognition
Account Tracking
Location
Google tracks so much to the point that it is borderline creepy
If you are connected to google, they have tracked the things you do - and even
10. What do they do with all this information?
While Google does track a lot, it keeps the information to itself.
You can manage privacy settings easily
Information is NEVER shared with the government
Information is NEVER sold to other companies
The information Google takes is used solely in an attempt to make Google work
better for YOU and be better tailored to YOU
11. Terrorism
This begs the question
What does Google do when it runs into suspicious searches or accounts?
This is a very interesting dilemma
Safety Vs. Privacy
Too much information in the wrong hands
12. Information coming in...
Basically google records everything about your account unless you specify for
it not to.
Because of this Google records billions of searches everyday, many of which
can be a bit suspicious. I’m sure many people have just typed something into
Google without really thinking about what that something was.
How does Google filter these searches and information?
13. Filter
Google can filter these results by topic
Most recently the company has had to deal with terrorism and the growth of
ISIS as a threat
Rather than attempting to punish these possible criminals, Google has opted to
try and redirect them
14. Google’s Process
Google has been working to remove extremist content from it’s own system
While redirecting people from extremist content that they have no control over
Google removed over 14+ Million extremist videos from Youtube in 2014
alone
When a search is placed for the term “Join ISIS”, Google will redirect links to
searches for places like the Quilliam Foundation - the counter-extremism
think-tank
15. Information going out...
The people who made these searches is not released
Not to the government
Not to business
Not to other users
The information is kept to Google, but is this the right choice? Is Google really
doing the best they can to fight these extremists utilizing their Company?
Sorry, politicians!
16. Is Google doing their best?
I say yes
Turning over user information is a dangerous game, and could lead to very
negative results.
Giving others too much information could lead to many problems such as false
arrests or attacking of users by businesses or other users.
17. Is there anything more they can do?
I don’t think so, they are at a standstill.
They can’t give too much information out, and giving information to the
government would mean that the government could get information on
anybody’s file at any time.
On the other hand, they can’t falsely accuse users and hinder their service, so
the most they can do is to alter and monitor their service.
From Google’s perspective, this is the best they can do to give everybody the
best experience possible and continue to globalize the company.
18. How does this affect Google specifically?
Google is put into a tough spot
Do they want to compromise their business to confront these searches?
Is that even feasible to do?
Would working with governments help or hinder their image?
Can Google divulge certain information to help catch these people
These questions are important and any answer could drive the company in a
completely different direction than another.
19. Conclusion - Part 1
Google is a business superpower, reaching across the globe and
attempting to appeal to as many people as possible through innovation and
change.
This scope and reach constantly push Google to new limits, whether it is
in the best interest to pursue them or not - they are constantly changing and and
innovating
This innovation pushes Google to record information of their users. This
information could be both wonderful and dangerous.
20. Conclusion - Part 2
The threat of terrorism has been heavy on the minds of the people of the
world as of late.
With Google getting as much information coming in as they do, is there
anything they can do?
I conclude that Google is doing everything they can to help prevent
extremism, whilst also maintaining their image and not compromising their
business.
21. Sources
Bolton, D. (2016, February 3). Google reveals plans to fight terrorism by sending
would-be extremists to anti-radicalisation websites. Retrieved October 14,
2016, from http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-
tech/news/google-search-results-extremism-radicalisation-isis-project-
a6850531.html
https://privacy.google.com/safer-internet.html
