Like Beck, Russia Notices Google Role in Egypt Unrest

If you've read the news lately, you might have heard Glenn Beck has been discussing Google. And while some have incorrectly reported that he is advocating a boycott of the company, the truth is he's actually skeptical of the company's government connections and two of its executive's involvement in the Egyptian revolution. It seems Russia might agree.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, and reported by Reuters, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's deputy blamed Google for stirring up trouble in Egypt.

"Look what they have done in Egypt, those highly-placed managers of Google, what manipulations of the energy of the people took place there," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin reportedly told the Wall Street Journal.

Reuters concludes:

Such strong comment from one of Putin's most trusted deputies is a clear signal of growing concern among Russian hardliners about the role of the Internet in the unrest which has swept across the Arab world.

Sechin gave no further details on his concerns. Google executive, Wael Ghonim, became an unlikely hero of the uprising in Egypt which led to Mubarak's deposition.

In contrast to state television, Russia's Internet is remarkably free and the home to often scathing criticism of Putin, President Dmitry Medvedev and the entire Russian elite.

On Tuesday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev predicted that unrest in the Middle East could grow.

"These states are difficult, and it is quite probable that hard times are ahead, including the arrival at power of fanatics. This will mean fires for decades and the spread of extremism," Medvedev said in televised comments.