“Googliness” is still important for Google’s operations outside the US, but it is incorporating local touches. In some countries, such as Russia, Google has struggled to compete against local rivals such as Yandex and Rambler. “Our support for the Russian language was not great, so we opened an office in Russia and got Russian engineers to look at the problem,” says Nelson Mattos, Google’s new head of engineering for Europe.
Meanwhile, Google is launching products such as mapping services, which by their nature require regional expertise. A team in Israel is leading developments that include reading internet pages from right to left. The company is keen to move into mobile services, in which London is a global centre.
Above all, there is a fear that unless Google is sensitive to concerns voiced by European governments it could become embroiled in long legal disputes. European data protection officials, for example, question the length of time Google keeps the results of search queries, amid concern that these could compromise users’ rights to privacy.
About Me
- Marc A. Ross
- Washington, DC, United States
- Marc has an extensive background in business development for companies as well as directing the advocacy operations, communications efforts, fundraising programs and public affairs for nonprofits, corporations and political campaigns for the highest offices in the United States and the United Kingdom. Marc is available for consulting, workshops, panels, interviews, training sessions, advice, commentary and speaking on all things Advocacy 2.0. Marc can be reached via email by sending a note to marc (at) 2ndsix.com or by twitter at @microadvocacy.
