I look at the money.
In a cyber-war, how much would the Kremlin pay to
disrupt every Chinese WiFi network to which an Android
device has a current password?
Do you think Larry Page can be bought?
I'm serious: You need to consider the way Google is run before deciding if any of these theories are plausible.
This is a company which has a history of spurning money-making opportunities in favor of some higher ideal (often times to the chagrin of business-minded types within the company). To give a few examples: Licensing Android, complying with China, accepting paid placements, etc.
You can argue each of those decisions was actually more profitable for Google in the end. And that's the point: Google would not make $10B next year if they sold out their users to the Kremlin this year.
My opinion about Larry Page's price is that it depends upon who is buying and what they are offering. An offer similar to one from the Kremlin which is easy to refuse might be one he cannot refuse from Fort Meade.
But lest my meaning is misunderstood, an offer from Fort Meade might be one Mr. Page gladly accepts as a US national - I certainly have no more reason to question his patriotism than to believe it to be partisan in the extreme.
Even removing patriotism from the equation, developing and maintaining good relations with governments and their agencies involved across national borders probably makes sound business sense for a company of Google's size. And I have little doubt that Mr. Page places substantial value on international business opportunities.
Absolutely. His price is letting him remain a billionaire. I'm of the opinion that most billionaires would sell their own mothers to organ harvesters if failure to do so would result in them becoming poor.
I'm serious: You need to consider the way Google is run before deciding if any of these theories are plausible.
This is a company which has a history of spurning money-making opportunities in favor of some higher ideal (often times to the chagrin of business-minded types within the company). To give a few examples: Licensing Android, complying with China, accepting paid placements, etc.
You can argue each of those decisions was actually more profitable for Google in the end. And that's the point: Google would not make $10B next year if they sold out their users to the Kremlin this year.