November 9 is an important moment for freedom - the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

For Google, this moment demands celebration. We are working with two organizations dedicated to free speech - Speaker’s Corner Trust and the delightfully named Centre for Political Beauty - to host an event at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.This was once the site of the German capital’s division. Now it is the place where East and West come together in harmony. In the morning of November 9, we will build a replica at the Brandenburg Gate of the Speaker’s Corner from Hyde Park in London.

From 11 a.m., speakers take the stage. Uwe Lehmann-Brauns, former Vice President of the Berlin Parliament, Peter Bradley, director of Speaker’s Corner Trust, Gesine Schwan, political science professor, and myself will speak about the importance of freedom of expression.

We’ll then open the floor to the audience. All comers are encouraged to express their opinion on the Berlin Wall and freedom. When we’re done, we’ll post the videos to our Freedom of Expression channel on YouTube.

This isn’t the first time we’ve celebrated the fall of the Wall. Two years ago, we sponsored and participated in a conference entitled Breaking Borders, politicians, policy makers, netizens and journalists all agreed on the importance of freedom of expression for a functioning democracy. The web is providing once unimaginable possibilities for political participation, free exchange of information and democratic movements around the world.

Come and express your opinion on this year’s anniversary. Hope to see you all on November 9.

Posted by Max Senges, Public Afairs and Internet Policy, Berlin

When the UK first proposed a high level event on the Internet, the initial agenda emphased cybercrime. Instead, the London Conference on Cyberspace in the Queen Elizabeth Conference Hall over the past two days focused on the net’s liberating power.

Representatives of 60 nations gathered. The guest list included many champions of freedom of expression - both government officials and on-the-ground activists. Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, Yemeni blogger Atiaf Al-Wazir, and Estonian President Toomas Ilves stressed how the Internet promotes freedom, allowing the individual to speak out in new, powerful ways.

The Estonian President recounted how his country suffered a massive cyberattack in 2007. Instead of responding by shutting down the net, he encouraged his country to strengthen its embrace of the digital world. Estonians last year used the Internet to cast their ballots in parliamentary elections.

Much of the talk at the conference centered on the Net’s economic benefits. On the screens in the main hall, slides showed figures from the Boston Consulting Group’s Internet impact study showing that the digital economy now accounts for 7% of the UK’s GDP and is predicted to rise to 10% by 2015. Full disclosure: Google sponsored these reports. Separately, McKinsey presented a new report on the impact of the Internet on economic growth.

Of course, the conference also discussed the challenges of Internet security. A day before the conference opened, the intelligence agency GCHQ warned that cyberattacks on the UK were at "disturbing" levels.

But UK Foreign Minister William Hague spoke out foremost about freedom. “Nothing would be more fatal or self-defeating than the heavy hand of state control on the Internet, which only thrives because of the talent of individuals and of industry within an open market for ideas and innovation," he said. Hague warned against “state-imposed barriers to trade, commerce and the free flow of information and ideas”.

The UK conference organisers plan to hold follow-up meetings. “We will develop into the 'London Agenda' - an inclusive and focused approach to help us realise the enormous potential cyberspace offers for a more prosperous, safe and open networked world," the UK Foreign Minister concluded. At Google, we are hopeful that supporters of a free and open Internet will continue to speak out.

Posted by William Echikson, Head of Free Expression, Europe, Middle East and Africa

The UK's digital champion Martha Lane Fox is working to get online the nine million Brits who have never used the Internet. We joined her in Liverpool this week to explain our Getting British Business Online programme to get companies to embrace the web.

In September, we kicked off three months of free events in Liverpool, aimed at helping small businesses get online or boost their presence online. We’ve never done anything like this before in one city, and we’re partnering with organisations like the Chamber of Commerce and Liverpool Vision to help it make a real impact.




















Britain's digital champion Martha Lane Fox

The centrepiece of our initiative in Liverpool is a travelling Juice Bar. It is currently at the beautifully restored Toxteth Library. At the bar, advisers in tee-shirts are offering one to one consultations to help businesses set up a free website, or to imporve their e-skills.

During our visit to Liverpool, we met John and Alison, who are about to launch their first website to spread the word about their Korean martial arts business.More than 500 businesses already have been offered free consultations across Merseyside and aim to help 1,500 by December. To register for the Juice Bar, set up a free website, or find our free guides, businesses can visit this website.



Google's Peter Barron watches a Google Juice Bar digital expert consult with martial arts entrepreneurs John and Alison

Posted by Peter Barron, Director, External Relations