Douglas Rushkoff’s story “The Great Google Coverup?” at TheDailyBeast.com discusses a problem Google may have protecting their data assets in China. This is a troubling aspect of cloud computing: how can the security of the cloud be reasonably guaranteed? Everyone with a stake in the success of cloud computing speaks confidently about the security of the cloud, but I remain skeptical. According to the article, Google may have put the confidentiality of Chinese Google/gmail users at risk by storing their data on servers located in China. Servers in China could be more vulnerable to physical security breaches and wiretaps by the Chinese government. From my perspective, I’m concerned about any data stored in any cloud—not just clouds that extend into China.

—Jim Herbeck