SearchEngineUpdate with Vanessa Zamora - 03-26-2008 Part I
Abstract: 1. Yahoo Is Joining MySpace and Google To Form OpenSocial Foundation, 2. Google Shareholders To Address Free Speech & Human Rights
Vanessa Zamora
Video Content Producer, SearchEngineWorld
6:00 pm on Mar. 26, 2008 (utc 0)
Transcript
Wednesday March 26, 2008
Yahoo Is Joining MySpace and Google To Form OpenSocial Foundation
Yahoo has announced it will join MySpace and Google to form the OpenSocial Foundation, a non profit group to be led by Google aimed at creating technical specifications that make it easier for developers to write software that can run on any social network or Web site that embraces the standards. OpenSocial hopes to eliminate the burden that comes with the current need for developers to write separate code for each site on which they want their applications to be available. Google, who originally formed the OpenSocial alliance in the Fall, Tuesday decided to turn it over to a nonprofit foundation. The combined properties will enable developers to reach more than 500 million people worldwide and will expand the opportunity for developers and publishers to benefit from an open and increasingly social Web. With the most recent addition of Yahoo, Facebook and Windows Live Spaces, Microsoft’s portal, are now the only major networking sites that are not a part of the project.
Google Shareholders To Address Free Speech & Human Rights
Google shareholders will face two proposals expected to be submitted at the annual shareholder meeting scheduled for May 8th, aimed at holding Google accountable for protecting international free speech and also to establish a board committee on human rights that would review and make recommendations regarding human rights issues raised by the company's activities and policies. Google has come under fire over the last twelve months for its operations and policies that go against Western ideals, like Google’s decision to censor Web searches in China. Google has seen the effect of non compliance to local laws, most recently with the ban of its Google Video sharing Web site YouTube in both China and Pakistan for airing controversial content. Google's board is recommending that shareholders reject both of the proposals, despite the push by human rights movement and free speech advocates.
