Google Take Downs & Malware Warnings

Caught a curious article about the number of official takedown requests in the UK. Curious, because it seems rather low. And the item is talking about this time last year...so why is it really news?

During the six months of 2012, the number of requests rose by 98% The UK government and police have requested removal of 124 videos and advertisements in 2012. 

According to a new Transparency Report by the internet giant, majority of requests involved the removal of YouTube videos that were believed to violate national security and hate speech laws, while Google rejected about half of the requests. The number of requests excludes court orders for offence and copyright infringement. During the initial six months of 2012, the number of requests for the removal rose by 98% compared with the corresponding period in 2011. 

Google said in its report that it received a request from a Member of Parliament to remove a blog post for suggesting that he advised businesses while serving in government.

I'm more concerned that Google has made it rather difficult for websites to complain and restore access to their websites if the Google algorithm decides the site contains malware or is using copyrighted material to which the owners object. This has happened to some clients of mine. Google offers people very useful services. But if you somehow violate the terms and conditions, starting a conversation is almost impossible. Played around with Google Adwords once. Not a fun experience...

I note that John C Dvorak's popular blog (on which NoAgendaShow.com relies for donations) has been erroneously flagged by my Chrome browser as containing malware. In fact there is nothing wrong, as you can see if you use (heaven forbid) Internet Explorer. But it is worrying if your business depends on web access - which almost all media businesses do.

Everyone is wearing Google Glass @TNW in Amsterdam

May be I should qualify that.

We're all trying on the same pair that tech writer Robert Scoble brought with him to TheNextWeb conference in the Western part of Amsterdam today.



Fair play, Scoble stuck around for around 2 hours after a stage interview with Andrew Keen to let people try them on, pose for photos and ask questions. He could have escaped like other speakers...but he didn't. Photo quality wasn't bad at all. Only challenge is that that position above the right eye is not the most interesting angle for photos.

The Scoble and Keen interview focus on privacy, with Andrew quizzing Robert on why he kept them on while in a public convenience. For the last year, Google Glass has spawned all kinds of videos. From the official ones....



to a whole host of  parodies. Like if Project Windows Glass existed...



and remember this college project called Sight from last August?

Sight from Sight Systems on Vimeo.

I'm very curious to see what price these glasses will eventually sell for. I can't imagine it has cost Google more than US$150 to make them. They have obviously spent time and money on the design. My guess is under US$300. Assuming they ever ship to the general public.


John C. Dvorak, one half of the no-agenda show, believes Google Glasses is nothing more than a hoax and a giant publicity stunt. I'm pretty sure that others are working on wearable competitors. Like Go-Pro, for instance. But, for the moment, Google is generating a lot of media exposure for a remarkably little piece of investment, especially at a time when Apple is stuck in its product cycle....not producing anything really new.
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Robert Scoble was at TNW sharing the news about Google Glass

Hanna Vera and Robert Scoble at TNW

Martim Bryant, Managing Editor @ TheNextWeb

I even tried them on. Though ironically couldn't take a picture of myself wearing them!

Jonathan Marks gets his one minute with Google Glasses. Fascinating. Surprised at the quality of the video definition.