Google Ideas Takes On Extremism: Think Tank Gathers Former Radicals

The Washington Post:

Technology giant Google, having conquered the Internet and the world around it, is taking on a new challenge: violent extremism.

Read the whole story: The Washington Post

Comments

[Chris Writes]

04:59 PM on 06/24/2011

No, that would be a job for Spiderman. Few people know this but in 1986 Web of Spiderman he fought the IRA in Belfast and London!

It lead to the NY marvel office being evacuated after bomb threats.

See images from the comic itself here -

http://wanderingirish.com/2011/06/24/spiderman-takes-on-the-ira/

[dtmfman]

03:37 PM on 06/24/2011

"Can google stop violent extremism?"

Maybe...but perhaps they should work on stopping spam first?

[Beatnik59]

03:36 PM on 06/24/2011

Why is this such a big issue for Google?

Because for the past several years, we've assumed that greater web access=greater global tolerance.

But the history of the new medium tells a different story, that it is not altogether clear whether the Internet creates peace and tolerance. It has, just as much, been a vehicle for isolationism and nativism.

The most interesting thing about this article isn't about what Google says, but what it doesn't say. If access to information and communication creates tolerance, then why is it so necessary for Google to call this forum together?

Simple, because the very tools that we hoped would create a better world have, in fact, created a more desensitized, intolerant one in many parts of the world.

[Socialnewser]

02:19 PM on 06/24/2011

Summary: Google wants ideas to figure out how to make money using Google technology in an untapped market segment.

"We are trying to reframe issues like radicalization and see how we can apply technology to it,” said Jared Cohen"

"The attendees were selected because of their ability to contribute financially or through technology or their involvement in organizations working on the same problem."

[LibertyRoy]

01:46 PM on 06/24/2011

I love it when big-brother companies like Google claim to be out to "help the world." Just like when their motto use to be "Do no harm" but then they jettisoned that for a few buck when China wanted their help in catching dissidents and creating a version of their product that holds back freedom of speech. Sorry, won't get fooled again. Of course, given this site is attached at the hip to Google, I doubt this comment will even make it past screeners.

[The Dude67]

01:45 PM on 06/24/2011

Is it violent extremism when another Country believes it has the right to invade your country, install a puppet government, and then sell your natural and human resources off to the highest bidder?

If so, then we need to change the history books to call out the American Revolution as the act of violent extremists.  

End the phony war on terror, or at very least, call it by it's proper name - Economic Imperialism, and we its obedient subjects.  ☮