RSS
Folks In Europe Trying To Connect The CIA To Every Successful American Internet Company?
from the I-mean,-seriously... dept
Earlier this week, some readers sent in the utterly ridiculous article from the Guardian in the UK working out all sorts of laughable conspiracy theories behind Facebook. It seemed rather strange that a publication like the Guardian would publish such a shoddy column. It bizarrely suggests that libertarians and neoconservatives are the same thing, when they're practically opposites on the political spectrum. Then it tries to link Facebook to the CIA via one of the more tenuous links out there. The idea that the CIA ran Facebook got some buzz on conspiracy sites a year or so ago, but to see it in a respected publication is really surprising. The connection discussed (the same one from the conspiracy sites) isn't just weak, it's wrong.
It tries to connect In-Q-Tel, the well-known venture capital arm of the CIA to Facebook. There are just a few problems with this. First, In-Q-Tel is run quite separately from the CIA. It is true that the CIA provides the money and In-Q-Tel looks for investments that in some way could help the CIA (though, often that's a very loose connection), but it's not like it's a bunch of spies running around and investing. It's basically a separate organization, run by experienced industry folks, not CIA agents. Then, the article claims that In-Q-Tel was formed in response to the events of 9/11, even though In-Q-Tel was formed in 1999 (which is noted in the article). It's difficult to see how it could have been formed in '99 as a result of an event two years in the future (I see now that the Guardian has issued a correction on that point). The fact is that 9/11 had no bearing on the creation of In-Q-Tel. Even more to the point: In-Q-Tel has no investment in Facebook. The actual connection is that some of Facebook's investors sat on the board of the National Venture Capital Association, with Gilman Louie, who originally ran In-Q-Tel (which he came to from a toy company, not from being a spy). That's like saying Warren Buffet really controls Microsoft, because he plays bridge with Bill Gates every once in a while. Just because the two are on the same board of a well-known group for venture capitalists, doesn't mean there's even the slightest connection between Facebook and the CIA.
And it's not just Facebook that's apparently got scary CIA connections. A video making its way around Digg is claiming "The Shocking Truth Behind Google's Ideology." It's not entirely clear what the origin of the video is, but the supervisor credited at the end is a professor in Germany. The video has scary music and frightening language. "The former students' project now rules the World Wide Web." And "the so-called PageRank." Oooh, scary. It also refers in ominous tones to "The Google Master Plan" which is a well-known (well, at least to some folks) joke.
It also throws in something about how Google wants to control all the world's information, rather than just organize it, which is a misleading addition to Google's actual mission. It tosses in some nice scare-mongering about how Google is doing this "all for free." It incorrectly states (with a very ominous image) that Google "stores the entire known web." Google does cache a portion of the public web, but that's quite different. Then it brings up the old claim about Google "scanning all your emails," implying that it's not just matching context for ads, but building a database of info about you based on your emails -- which is simply not true. It also falsely implies that Google is conducting research into genetics. It is true that Google invested in Sergey Brin's wife's company, which does genetics-related research, but that's not the same as saying that Google is doing that research. The video also takes the wild leap to somehow claim that Google will somehow get access to everyone's genetic info. And, then, of course, there's the CIA connection. The video claims that Google is actually creating "dossiers" on everyone and "working undercover with the CIA," according to the claims of a "former CIA agent," which involves a report on a well-known conspiracy theory radio show without any proof, that Google took some money from the CIA and now does things for the CIA.
The video doesn't ever get around to revealing any "shocking truth." It merely makes a bunch of ominous sounding, but either incorrect, or at least questionable, statements, and piles them together to say that something bad must be going on. Between these two things, coming out at about the same time, is there just some bizarre desire by some folks in Europe to accuse successful American internet firms of having some dark connection to the CIA?
It tries to connect In-Q-Tel, the well-known venture capital arm of the CIA to Facebook. There are just a few problems with this. First, In-Q-Tel is run quite separately from the CIA. It is true that the CIA provides the money and In-Q-Tel looks for investments that in some way could help the CIA (though, often that's a very loose connection), but it's not like it's a bunch of spies running around and investing. It's basically a separate organization, run by experienced industry folks, not CIA agents. Then, the article claims that In-Q-Tel was formed in response to the events of 9/11, even though In-Q-Tel was formed in 1999 (which is noted in the article). It's difficult to see how it could have been formed in '99 as a result of an event two years in the future (I see now that the Guardian has issued a correction on that point). The fact is that 9/11 had no bearing on the creation of In-Q-Tel. Even more to the point: In-Q-Tel has no investment in Facebook. The actual connection is that some of Facebook's investors sat on the board of the National Venture Capital Association, with Gilman Louie, who originally ran In-Q-Tel (which he came to from a toy company, not from being a spy). That's like saying Warren Buffet really controls Microsoft, because he plays bridge with Bill Gates every once in a while. Just because the two are on the same board of a well-known group for venture capitalists, doesn't mean there's even the slightest connection between Facebook and the CIA.
And it's not just Facebook that's apparently got scary CIA connections. A video making its way around Digg is claiming "The Shocking Truth Behind Google's Ideology." It's not entirely clear what the origin of the video is, but the supervisor credited at the end is a professor in Germany. The video has scary music and frightening language. "The former students' project now rules the World Wide Web." And "the so-called PageRank." Oooh, scary. It also refers in ominous tones to "The Google Master Plan" which is a well-known (well, at least to some folks) joke.
It also throws in something about how Google wants to control all the world's information, rather than just organize it, which is a misleading addition to Google's actual mission. It tosses in some nice scare-mongering about how Google is doing this "all for free." It incorrectly states (with a very ominous image) that Google "stores the entire known web." Google does cache a portion of the public web, but that's quite different. Then it brings up the old claim about Google "scanning all your emails," implying that it's not just matching context for ads, but building a database of info about you based on your emails -- which is simply not true. It also falsely implies that Google is conducting research into genetics. It is true that Google invested in Sergey Brin's wife's company, which does genetics-related research, but that's not the same as saying that Google is doing that research. The video also takes the wild leap to somehow claim that Google will somehow get access to everyone's genetic info. And, then, of course, there's the CIA connection. The video claims that Google is actually creating "dossiers" on everyone and "working undercover with the CIA," according to the claims of a "former CIA agent," which involves a report on a well-known conspiracy theory radio show without any proof, that Google took some money from the CIA and now does things for the CIA.
The video doesn't ever get around to revealing any "shocking truth." It merely makes a bunch of ominous sounding, but either incorrect, or at least questionable, statements, and piles them together to say that something bad must be going on. Between these two things, coming out at about the same time, is there just some bizarre desire by some folks in Europe to accuse successful American internet firms of having some dark connection to the CIA?
I have a business...
Why and How Developers Use Mobile Payments: Infographic
The Future Of Commerce Will Combine Your Social Network And Mobile Device
I’m looking for policy...
Jon Potter: Software Patent Trolls Can Be Stopped By U.S. Patent Office And Congress
Developers On Patents: Five Employees, Six Lawyers
I have an app...
App Developer Conversations: What Does The iPad Mini Mean For The App Economy?
Developer Census: Be Counted. It takes less than two minutes.
Reader Comments (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
One error though, Google isn't run by the CIA, its run by the NSA.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Such blatent attempts.... I always expected better from the CIA....
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Google conspiracy video
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Hardly!
Er ... right!?! A dodgy article in one country and unrelated video by some individual in another country hardly demonstrates any that "Folks In Europe [are] Trying To Connect The CIA To Every Successful American Internet Company".
Get a grip lad.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
The bloke who wrote it is a luddite
Good article though!
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
though, how a company that is
'well-known venture capital arm of the CIA'
'CIA provides the money' (for In-q-tel)
'In-Q-Tel looks for investments that in some way could help the CIA'
could claim to be 'a very loose connection' (even sometimes)
is a bit beyond me.
very odd article overall.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Conspiracies are fun
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Opin
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
If another story (or worse, multiple) come out and from a more respectable source than The Guardian, then be worried Europeans are paranoid about the CIA.
From my experience, Europeans just look down at Americans. That used to bother me, but recent years the behavior of the general American public and government has made me think they have a right to. I *hate* spoiled, irresponsible brats. Sadly that means I hate most Americans now. :(
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Hardly!
And the Guardian prints this type of story all the time.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Google is used by the Gov't
Well, if that's the case then Wikipedia should be in there too, since the US Intel community uses wikis and blogs now too.
Conspiracy? Pleeeeaaasssee! I don't think so and no, the coolaid tastes like mierda.
Tom
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Yeah, like access via court order or something? No, as in having boxes connected into them. Direct access baby.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
You obviously don't read The Grauniad that often.
:-)
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Guardian gets it wrong!
Do I get a job as a star reporter with the Guardian? I mean my logic is impeccable and I would fit right in with the rest of the staff.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
I want attention
Like the people who deny the Holocaust happened and deny that 9/11 was the act of terrorists, these people put out conspiracy theories and contrary views just to get attention.
Remember the French guy who published a book saying that no airplane hit the Pentagon on 9/11, despite the actual evidence? He got a book published!
The German "professor" may have created the video simply to pass around to some friends, but now he's in an article by the Guardian and in an article on Tech Dirt. How's that for attention, for a theory with no basis in fact.
So maybe that's the real way to become famous. Forget about auditioning for American Idol- just put out your own wacky conspiracy theory.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Scapegoat for the world
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
2. The CIA wishes it had come up with Facebook.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]
Add Your Comment