Google is in talks with top credit card firms Visa and Microsoft as well as PayPal to crack down on pirating sites by removing their sources of funding, according to a report. The search giant is in preliminary discussions for the plan, according to The Telegraph. The “radical move” would go after sites that offer links to pirated movies, music and books. If sites that are based offshore do not respond to legal challenges, then the companies would block payments from customers. A Google rep, however, said there was nothing new planned and cited a July 2012 blog post on the issue that called for fighting pirating sites by going after funding sources: “How best to combat this danger? Instead of imposing blocks or filters that might damage fundamental freedoms, governments should construct coalitions with reputable advertising networks, payment processors and rightsholders. Together, these coalitions can crack down and squeeze the financing behind online infringement.”
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.