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Google’s Secret China Project “Effectively Ended” After Internal Confrontation

theintercept.com

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Re: Google’s Secret China Project “Effectively Ended” After Internal Confrontation

#301

Post by sonnyblarney »

Lazare wrote: post #214

It's interesting, because if The Intercept is to be believed, Beaumont has basically gone rogue, carving out his own little empire, aggressively preventing other internal teams from figuring out what he's doing, and engaging in behaviour that violates internal Google rules and policies, as well as which opening Google to significant reputational risk. I mean, I'll be the first to admit I have made mistakes in my care…

Working off the main campus, on a very sensitive project that the CEO himself likely shielded from other internal parties ... is not that bizarre really. I don't see how he's 'gone rogue' either, rather, this is more like a c-level sanctioned kind of skunkworks.

Re: Google’s Secret China Project “Effectively Ended” After Internal Confrontation

#302

Post by antidesitter »

longerthoughts wrote: post #133
arthur_pryor wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

why downvote this comment? i'm not saying you have to agree with it, but this seems like as universally accepted an answer to "what are basic human rights?" as any that might be given (i'm assuming there is actually no universally agreeable definition, but this seems like one of the more respectable and frequently cited sources).

I don't think the downvotes were warranted given that the comment introduced something worth discussing, but my thoughts might be in line with some of the downvoters. Human rights are not objective truths. The entire concept is something we made up based on beliefs that we formed through the course of history and we formalized the ones that a bunch of us were able to agree upon. They are a figment of our imaginations…

You can claim that morality is a fiction, but that doesn’t make it so. It’s not the most common or most plausible view.

Re: Google’s Secret China Project “Effectively Ended” After Internal Confrontation

#303

Post by rqs »

bad_user wrote: post #247
rqs wrote: post #233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Google employee did become more active on these issues which I think is progressive. Because the world is changing. The concern around privacy and censorship hasn't reached that level back in 2006 (Mainly because most westerners hasn't been effected by it, funny). The situation today is much different now. BUT, I don't think this will be a easy battle. Many people on Slashdot don't even believe Google will just sto…

> Many people on Slashdot Because Slashdot is a good source for unbiased opinions :-)

Well, I think all opinion is biased. After all, opinion is not truth, and lets face it, people are biased.

The thing is, the reason behind those biases is rather logical, that makes those comments worth noting.

(And yes, I know how bad some comments on Slashdot can be :)

Re: Google’s Secret China Project “Effectively Ended” After Internal Confrontation

#304

Post by Zhenya »

Zhenya wrote: post #239
srkmno wrote: post #200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's what all companies there are required to do and the Chinese people accept it, and a lot of them welcome the social credit system (according to reporting on the program) it's arrogant to to presume we know what's best for them.

" it's arrogant to to presume we know what's best for them." Would you say the same for the victims of the khemr rouge, millions killed by Stalin? Maybe the yellow stars helped the Jewish people gather for the Sabbath? /S Basic human rights are not relative.

Downvotes!!!! China-apologist brigade in full effect.

Why not tell me how you disagree?

Re: Google’s Secret China Project “Effectively Ended” After Internal Confrontation

#305

Post by AnIdiotOnTheNet »

chippy wrote: post #278
ionised wrote: post #268

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It would completely set up my family and children for life. This isn't as good an excuse as you think it is. You might want to ask yourself if there is anything you believe in or care about beyond your own genetic code.

One could imagine him thinking about him taking the job as a sacrifice. He will sacrifice his morals and what he cares about for the security of his family and children. He knows that he will sell his soul and be crushed, but he also knows that his family will be okay. It's one of the reasons suicide bombers blow themselves up too. But, as in this case he will live and it ignores the lasting psychological damage on t…

> but he also knows that his family will be okay.

Not really. By succumbing to this temptation he's contributing to creating a worse future for everyone, including his children and their children.

Re: Google’s Secret China Project “Effectively Ended” After Internal Confrontation

#306

Post by doctorstupid »

chippy wrote: post #277
eitland wrote: post #270

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This quote is interesting in a historic context (WhatsApp uses Moxie's encryption now.): > More to the point, if you’re in Saudi Arabia (or really anywhere), it might be prudent to think about avoiding insecure communication tools like WhatsApp and Viber

Does this mean WhatsApp is okay to use now?

No, in response to things like WhatsApp the Australian government just passed a bill enabling it to force companies to create backdoors to encrypted communications.

Re: Google’s Secret China Project “Effectively Ended” After Internal Confrontation

#307

Post by SmellyGeekBoy »

natch wrote: post #234

My guess is they will just switch to doing a pilot project in another country, just as repressive, but somewhere where the abuse of power is relatively speaking more under the radar for most people than China. Myanmar, for example, or Vietnam. This way they can achieve the research goals of learning how to operate in such an environment, while pretending to have stopped.

Or the US?

Re: Google’s Secret China Project “Effectively Ended” After Internal Confrontation

#308

Post by SmellyGeekBoy »

dymk wrote: post #51
ferongr wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do you know? Have you audited the source code of the software?

Have you audited the code for Signal's app? Have you built and installed the app from that audited source? Asking "have you audited the source" is such a meaningless question when you're not building from source (and auditing the compiler...), which practically nobody , not even HN users, are doing. Please read Reflections on trusting trust and rethink what your threat model is, and what you consider "secure". https:…

At least it's technically possible for Signal. Try getting hold of iMessage's source.

Re: Google’s Secret China Project “Effectively Ended” After Internal Confrontation

#309

Post by pimmen »

sonnyblarney wrote: post #301
Lazare wrote: post #214

It's interesting, because if The Intercept is to be believed, Beaumont has basically gone rogue, carving out his own little empire, aggressively preventing other internal teams from figuring out what he's doing, and engaging in behaviour that violates internal Google rules and policies, as well as which opening Google to significant reputational risk. I mean, I'll be the first to admit I have made mistakes in my care…

Working off the main campus, on a very sensitive project that the CEO himself likely shielded from other internal parties ... is not that bizarre really. I don't see how he's 'gone rogue' either, rather, this is more like a c-level sanctioned kind of skunkworks.

In a world where the share holder care that should trigger an investigation. I don't want to own shares in a company where management randomly does shitty things completely against the guidelines they've codified.

But, we live in a world where I guess the share holders nod their heads at inappropriate times when growth is on the line.

Re: Google’s Secret China Project “Effectively Ended” After Internal Confrontation

#310

Post by SmellyGeekBoy »

sftwds wrote: post #32
president wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sure there is weight in having Apple on your resume but Google engineers are generally sought after for SE positions. I hear managers pining over Google candidates all the time at my company.

As a Silicon Valley outsider that surprises me. I've heard that interviews at all the FAANG companies are all difficult (as an aside, why is Microsoft never in that list??). For organizations the size of Google and Apple, there are bound to be employees who squeaked by their interviews and would not have been hired at the other company. Why does "Google" on a resume look better than "Apple"? Is the Google interview t…

> I've heard that interviews at all the FAANG companies are all difficult (as an aside, why is Microsoft never in that list??)

I always assumed it was because they're not headquartered in Silicon Valley.

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