Rupert Murdoch attacks Google, claiming they profit from piracy
Media mogul and News Corporation CEO Rupert Murdoch has taken to his recently-opened Twitter account to attack search-giants Google, accusing them of enabling internet pirates and profiting in the process.
In a tirade that also pulled in Barrack Obama, the multi-billionaire criticised the president for supporting Google on some terms of the proposed Stop Online Piracy Act, which, if passed, could see widespread censorship of the internet in an attempt to protect against copyright infringement.
So Obama has thrown in his lot with Silicon Valley paymasters who threaten all software creators with piracy, plain thievery,” said Murdoch.
“Piracy leader is Google who streams movies free, sells advts around them. No wonder pouring millions into lobbying. Film making risky as hell. This has to lead to less, hurting writers, actors, all concerned,” he added (without making mention of the fair few bob his News Corp. makes through the ownership of 20th Century Fox too).
To illustrate his point, Murdoch used Google to search for free streaming sites on which to view the latest Mission Impossible film, Ghost Protocol.
“Just been to google search for Mission Impossible. Wow, several sites offering free links. I rest my case,” said the ageing media giant.
Murdoch did however spare a few kind words for Google:
“Google great company doing many exciting things. Only one complaint, and it’s important.”
Google, not taking Murdoch’s accusations lightly, hit back with a statement calling the rant “nonsense”
“Last year we took down 5 million infringing web pages”, said Google spokesperson Samantha Smith.
“Like many other tech companies, we believe that there are smart, targeted ways to shut down foreign rogue websites without asking US companies to censor the Internet.”
