arab-spring

The chapter details Julian Assange's encounter with Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen of Google, highlighting the intersection of Silicon Valley technology with U.S. geopolitical interests. It explores how Google Ideas, led by Cohen, emerged from political and intelligence circles to influence global communication and diplomacy. The chapter contextualizes WikiLeaks' role in exposing U.S. diplomatic secrets that contributed to the Arab Spring uprisings, illustrating the complex interplay between technology, power, and political upheaval.

This chapter consists entirely of detailed endnotes that provide extensive references and context for the main text of Julian Assange's 'When Google Met Wikileaks.' The notes cover topics such as the growth and valuation of Google, profiles of key figures like Jared Cohen, critical analyses of U.S. foreign policy doctrines like Responsibility to Protect (R2P), the role of WikiLeaks in the Arab Spring, and the treatment of whistleblowers such as Chelsea Manning and journalists like Barrett Brown. These annotations critically situate the geopolitical, technological, and legal controversies surrounding WikiLeaks and its impact on global power structures.