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Google to close engineering office in Russia

reuters.com

21–30 of 308 posts

Re: Google to close engineering office in Russia

#22
post #19

" Google Inc has plans to shut down its engineering office in Russia amid a crackdown on internet freedoms and a law regarding data-handling practices " Should they close their offices in USA then ? (yes I'm being sarcastic here)

Being a US company, they have no problem with regulation from US government. But clearly Google doesn't want to cooperate with other governments, be it China or Russia or Spain.

How did they not cooperate with Spain?

Re: Google to close engineering office in Russia

#23
post #6

Knowing the government's of Russia ways of controlling the media and opposition, I understand and agree with those scared for personal freedoms. On the other hand, I would feel way better if similar law would be imposed in EU, so my data would stay within its borders and be protected by EU laws.

TLDR: it's unrealistic to require a company to follow every country's laws just because some of that country's citizens use a service based outside of that country. The concept of data being "stored" like it's a card in a library card catalog is an anachronism. The physical location is irrelevant. It's the policies and laws under which the companies must deal that's more important. Of course enforcing certain laws in…

>> "Ultimately if a Google user doesn't like the US law or terms of service offered, it's up to the customer to go to another service."

True. But if Google doesn't want to lose users they will change to accommodate them. Google's business is based on knowing as much about as many people as possible. They need as many users as possible and I'm sure they will and do bow to certain countries laws when it feasible.

Re: Google to close engineering office in Russia

#24
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If they have local presence they can be pressured in any way in a Russian jurisdiction.

But if "the internet search engine company might retain some employees to assist in sales, business partnerships, user support, marketing and communications", won't they still have a local presence?

It careful says "might" and "assist". In the best case this means minimal presence in Russia that can be unplugged immediately. We don't know if this will happen using the Google company or transferring employees to a another entity and formally outsourcing it.

Re: Google to close engineering office in Russia

#25
post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Being a US company, they have no problem with regulation from US government. But clearly Google doesn't want to cooperate with other governments, be it China or Russia or Spain.

How did they not cooperate with Spain?

They're closing Google News in Spain I suppose.

Re: Google to close engineering office in Russia

#26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How did they not cooperate with Spain?

They're closing Google News in Spain I suppose.

Sure, but I don't see how is that not cooperating. Not cooperating would be to close the offices in the country and continue running the site without paying, in defiance to the law. But what Google did was adapt itself to be in compliance with Spanish law, by taking one of the two options available.

Re: Google to close engineering office in Russia

#27
Will they close their offices in Europe as well when Europe implements the same laws? They're put in a bad light now because Russia does it, but the EU is contemplating the exact same laws.

These laws are not because Russia wants the data for themselves, they are because the US currently has them and they've been shown to be absolutely incapable of dealing with that responsibility in an acceptable fashion.

Re: Google to close engineering office in Russia

#28
Putin is increasingly cracking down on any possibility of dissent and threat to his power, whatever the consequences to the Russian economy, and this of course scares foreign companies who work there - even if, with the recent fall of the ruble, Russian talent is even more affordable now.

I'm afraid (I have friends in Russia) that we're going to see more of this.

Re: Google to close engineering office in Russia

#29
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What exactly do you consider propaganda? You don't believe that Google is shutting down their Russian office?

Reasoning. Internet became regulated in Russia, and what? How does this relate to hacking on V8 engine, for example? (They have such teem in Saint Petersburg) This article appeared just to support sentiment and noise around how bad/evil Russia is doing. No matter of truth or plausibility, all kind of noise just works.

It's not "Russia" that is evil. It's Putin's regime that is increasingly evil.
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