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Environment

Google’s gatekeepers

The Takeaway

    You might think that free speech is controlled by international laws, but law professor Jeffrey Rosen says you’re wrong.
    Jeffrey Rosen writes about "Google’s gatekeepers" in a piece for this weekend’s "New York Times" magazine, where he is a frequent contributor.

    He says free speech — at least, online — is now controlled by Nicole Wong, known within the halls of Google as "The Decider." Wong controls what video stays on YouTube and which links are picked up by the Google search engine.

    According to Rosen: "If Google does not take down links or videos that are illegal in a particular country then their employees can be arrested on the ground and they can be held criminally liable."

    "The Takeaway" is PRI’s new national morning news program, delivering the news and analysis you need to catch up, start your day, and prepare for what’s ahead. The show is a co-production of WNYC and PRI, in editorial collaboration with the BBC, The New York Times Radio, and WGBH.

    More at thetakeaway.org

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