Google Ideas is safeguarding the Internet for billions of newcomers

“Billions of people are coming online for the first time,” says Eric Schmidt, executive chairman at Google. “Many will reply on the Internet not only for access to information, but also for free expression.”

Google Ideas is a team of engineers, researchers and geopolitical experts who build products to support free expression and access to information. The team focus on the problems faced by people who live in unstable, isolated or oppressive environment including the billions of people who are coming online for the first time.

Every day, independent news, human rights, and election monitoring sites around the world are taken offline and silenced by attacks on their servers. Project Shield uses Google’s technology to protect websites at risk and keep them online.

Criminals and corrupt officials use shell companies to hide their activity. Investigative Dashboard helps investigate corruption by giving journalists the tools to follow money and uncover international money laundering.

Every day, hundreds of millions of emails are sent with the intent of stealing passwords. These attacks often target journalists, activists and human rights groups. Password Alert lets people know if they’ve been targeted by this type of attack.

In addition to this, Digital Attack Map displays the tens of thousands of attacks against the websites of newspapers, businesses and charities every day.

Around two thirds of the world's population is still not online, but with projects like Mark Zuckerberg's Internet.org aimed at connecting the world's farthest regions, that figure is set to change. Zuckerberg suggests connecting the world is in fact the greatest challenge of our generation, and positions connectivity alongside freedom of speech and freedom from hunger.

It's good to know the benevolent Google is looking out for our Internet wellbeing.