SPIEGEL ONLINE - 25.10.2012
Google has long insisted that it is "not a conventional company." An increasing number of users, competitors and advertisers are starting to doubt that claim. As the intransparent search engine giant expands its offerings, companies that stand in the way claim they are being made to suffer. Anti-trust agencies on both sides of the Atlantic are listening. By SPIEGEL Staff
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SPIEGEL ONLINE - 17.10.2012
The US government, together with Google and Facebook, have launched a lobbying offensive against a proposed EU data privacy law that would strengthen users' rights to have information deleted. The issue has divided Germany's government, and privacy advocates think it still doesn't go far enough. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE - 25.09.2012
This week, Google will open a high-profile office in the German capital, which has become a hub for technology firms. With the official opening next year of the Factory, a campus of companies including SoundCloud, entrepreneurs in the city hope to cement Berlin's reputation as Europe's leading city for start-ups. By Rachel Stern in Berlin more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE - 25.09.2012
Search engine giant Google officially opens its hip new Berlin office this week. But the company has long been active in the German capital in its bid to influence government Internet policy. Its subtle approach to lobbying involves building an opaque network of PR professionals, activists and academics -- and its efforts are paying off. By Sven Becker and Stefan Niggemeier more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE - 20.09.2012
Search engines attempt to guess what users are looking for and offer them suggested words. But can these terms constitute defamation? Former German first lady Bettina Wulff says they do, and is suing Google over searches that pair her name with terms like "prostitute." Google maintains it is an automatic mechanism. By Stefan Niggemeier more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE - 10.09.2012
Former German first lady Bettina Wulff has taken on Google over search terms that link to false rumors that she used to be a prostitute. The company argues that it generates such terms based on "objective factors," but it's not that simple. Google has suppressed undesirable results before in response to powerful lobby groups. By Konrad Lischka more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE - 31.08.2012
Former Formula One head Max Mosley's name is synonymous with scandal thanks to a British tabloid and, years later, Google. Compromising images can still be found using the search engine, and Mosley has launched a broad legal offensive in Europe to force Google to filter out the photos. It could become a landmark digital-rights case. By Isabell Hülsen more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE - 30.08.2012
The government of Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to require Google and other aggregators to pay for reproducing content from news websites. Her cabinet on Wednesday agreed on a draft law that would impose a fee even for tiny snippets of text. Web activists are outraged. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE - 13.08.2012
Schlechtere Platzierung: Webangebote, gegen die wegen Urheberrechtsverletzungen viele Beschwerden eingehen, will Google in seinen Suchergebnissen künftig herabstufen. Websites wie YouTube, Facebook und Tumblr soll das System aber nicht schaden. mehr... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE - 10.08.2012
Google has been forced to pay $22 million in fines this week, a record for data privacy violations but small change for the giant corporation. Internet companies benefit from America's lax privacy and data protection laws, which are unlikely to change any time soon. It's a stark contrast to Europe, where the EU wants to toughen its laws -- and apply them to American companies. By Christian Stöcker more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE - 10.08.2012
Innovative Russia Internet companies are waging a battle for market share against US competitors, such as Google and Facebook. But another battle is raging within the country itself -- between supporters of online freedom and politicians wary of how online services can help foment revolt. By Benjamin Bidder more... [ Forum ]
