US State Department 'not foreign policy arm of Google'

[cory777]

Source: AFP


(AFP) – 5 hours ago

WASHINGTON — The State Department is taking cyberattacks on Google and other US firms very seriously and is seeking an explanation from Beijing but it is not the "foreign policy arm of Google," a US official said on Wednesday.

Alec Ross, the senior advisor for innovation to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, also said that a speech Clinton is due to give on Thursday on Internet freedom would not focus solely on China.

Speaking of the cyberattacks which Internet giant Google said last week originated in China, Ross said: "I think it is important to emphasize the private nature of some of this.

"This is primarily an issue between Google and 30 plus other private entities and the Chinese government," he said at the start of a panel discussion sponsored by the New America Foundation and Slate magazine.

"But we have responded with what I think is justifiable concern," Ross said. "We've asked for an explanation."

Ross added that the United States and China "have had conversations over the years where we've made clear our opinions both about the freedom of expression as well as cybersecurity.

"So we're taking this very seriously," he said.

"But all of that said, the State Department is not the foreign policy arm of Google," he said.

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[HeresyLives]

1. No, but it now looks like Google is the foreign policy arm of

the State Dept.

[krispos42]

2. They're busy being an arm of internation contractors and energy companies.

Google's gotta start making WAY more money if they want to move up the food chain.

[w4rma]

3. In other words don't expect the U.S. government to help protect American companies from foreign

espionage. In fact, it would appear that our government is happy to help the foreign companies and governments attack ours.

[iandhr]

4. I see we have fans....

.... of the Chineese goverment here. So you support China cyber-attacks on google to get at the e-mail accounts of political dissidents.

[FarCenter]

5. Of course not - the State Dept is the foreign policy arm of the Council on Foreign Relations