Google chief warns of government Web crackdown

Monday, June 27, 2011 11:17 AM
 

DUBLIN (AP) — Google chairman Eric Schmidt says democracy movements across the Arab world may lead to governments restricting Internet access.

Schmidt says governments are growing more wary of the Web as their citizens become technologically savvy. He says some governments are trying to regulate the Internet the way they regulate television.

There has been friction between Google Inc. and Chinese authorities, who have tried to limit the web pages citizens can access. Google has tried to bypass the problem by moving servers to Hong Kong.

Schmidt says Google cannot always defy governments because it has to protect its employees in the country.

Schmidt spoke Monday at a conference on extremism organized by Google, the Tribeca Film Festival and the Council on Foreign Relations.