Google improves protections for users

Freedom House welcomes the decision of Google to proactively notify users of suspected state-sponsored digital attacks.  When Google detects attempts by government cyber-spies to break in to a user’s account, the user will receive a warning message and instructions on how to make the account more secure.

"With this initiative, Google is raising the standard for protection of internet user privacy and responding in an innovative way to the growing efforts by repressive regimes to hack email and social media accounts of human rights advocates and independent journalists,” said Daniel Calingaert, vice president for policy and external affairs at Freedom House. 

This latest move by Google follows the company's decision last week to alert users in China about search terms currently censored and filtered by the Chinese government. 

Learn more:

Policy Brief: Growing Challenges to Internet Freedom
Freedom on the Net 2011
Alert: Freedom House Welcomes Entry to Global Network Initiative
Blog: A To Do List for Internet Freedom
Blog: Dictatorships Go High Tech -- With Our Help