By: Jason Lee Miller | Source: webpronews.com

Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and Vodafone quietly disclosed they were working together with human rights organizations, investors and legal experts to develop a code of conduct for technology companies to help protect online free speech and privacy. The move is likely in response to proposed legislation that would be much more restrictive.

The companies have been in talks since last year, says the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), but did not publicize their efforts. The proposed code of conduct is answer to heated criticisms the companies have faced after certain dealings with China.

Google, MSN, and Yahoo have all agreed to serve up modified search results in China in order to do business there. Yahoo has received the most fire from free speech groups and journalism organizations for the company’s involvement in jailing Internet writer Shi Tao, who received 10 years in prison for leaking sensitive information to journalists in New York.

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By: Michael Arrington | Source: techcrunch.com

While last week’s sugge stion that Yahoo was switching browser preferences without explicit permission, was a black mark for the company, it doesn’t come close to the allegations that Google has revealed confidential information about its users.

Google’s anti-phising blacklist contained confidential usernames and passwords of individuals, including logins for bank accounts etc.

Google has not publicly discussed the error, although they quietly removed the offending data. They have, however, acknowledged it in email correspondence with Finjan, which was forwarded to me. Google has since removed the confidential data.

Ok, I can take a search engine switching my settings, but dumping my username and passwords on to the web? Very bad! Especially as Google CEO Eric Schmidt told Marketing Pilgrim how AOL’s screw-up would not happen at Google.

Lastly, with AOL accidentally releasing a whole bunch of private data, how likely is it that the same could happen with Google? It’s not going to happen, according to Schmidt, "we have very specific security plans for attackers" and their compliance with Sarbanes Oxley requires them to protect the data. I’m sure AOL had the same standards, but it’s clear that Schmidt knows that Google is under a larger microscope and if it wants searchers to use more and more of their services, they’ll need to protect personal data at all costs. From Schmidt’s tone and body language, it’s not going to happen on his watch.

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By: Loren Baker | Source: searchenginejournal.com

Google is in talks over the acquisition of AdScape Medi. AdScape Media specializes in performance based video game advertising mixed with sponsored listings in its cell phone and txt messages their gaming systems send to layers who have achieved specific goals in the games.

Google’s potential move into the video game ad market comes at a time when they’re already exploring new markets with radio and perhaps television.

Last year Microsoft purchased in-game advertising firm Massive for about $200 million. Microsoft’s internal estimates place the in-game ad market at about $1 billion by 2010. The CEO of Massive said last year the figure was more like $1.6 billion. The Yankee Group thinks it’s more like $732 million by 2010.

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