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Google Closing Engineering Office In Russia

Posted by Soulskill on from the if-you-can't-stand-the-bears-get-out-of-the-kitchen dept.

An anonymous reader writes: The Wall Street Journal reports (paywalled) that Google is closing its engineering office in Russia. This follows ever-increasing crackdowns from the Russian government over internet freedoms, and intrusive data-handling requirements on internet companies. "[A] new law that takes effect next year requires information on Russian citizens to be stored in data centers in Russia. The law will also penalize Web firms for infringing on personal data rules in the country. Another law passed earlier this year requires bloggers with 3,000 or more daily readers to register with the government and provide their home address. The ruling prevents these bloggers from using foul language and forbids them from spreading false information."

4 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. Re:A cold war is brewing... by jfdavis668 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Russian wars in 1905 and 1914 lead directly to revolutions, not profits.

  2. First part seems good by Roodvlees · · Score: 3, Informative

    Storing data locally will in theory give people more control over their data. It seems though that it will in this case only give the government more control over your data.
    The second part is much worse and a continuation of russian policy to keep journalists and other people who have unpleasant things to say silent.

    --
    Thank you, Bradley Manning, Edward Snowden and so many others, for courageously defending humanity, my freedom and more!
  3. Re:50 engineers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    You are aware, of course, that the US does a significant amount of international trade... Right? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_trade

    Largest countries by international trade:
    1 - China (largest overall, 43% of GDP)
    2 - USA (second largest overall, 23% of GDP)
    3 - Germany (71% of GDP)
    4 - Japan (31.6% of GDP)
    5 - Netherlands (147% of GDP)

    No one in the US is saying "We don't need the world!". We import nearly 20% of our food, for God's sake!

    (http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/international-markets-trade/us-agricultural-trade/import-share-of-consumption.aspx)

  4. Re:50 engineers by tjb · · Score: 3, Informative

    GDP = Consumption + Governmentspending + eXport - iMport

    Exports and imports can both be many multiples of your GDP as long as they cancel themselves out. This is very common in small, open economies that are heavily reliant on trade.