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Is it all in the name of a lake? Protecting free speech in an age of Google and political turmoil. Statement from the Defend Campaign for Free Speech, UK, Published 1st September 2026 (Update)
Is it all in the name of a lake? Protecting free speech in an age of Google and political turmoil. Statement from the Defend Campaign for Free Speech, UK, Published 1st September 2026 (Update)
Speaking about U.S owned Google's response to President Donald Trump's Executive Order to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America, the Defend Campaign's founder, Jason Tanner, said:
"Every American within the bounds of the USA and every person elsewhere must pause for a moment to reflect on the implications for Free Speech. This ancient human right to speak is only effective if a person's message can also be heard.
"Defend is not judging whether Google Map's decision to present different information to different consumers is correct or not. But this is a sharp reminder to everyone to seek many sources of information rather than just one. This extends to search engines such as Google.
"Long-standing and widely used systems and technologies used for communication are disproportionately owned and managed from the USA
"The sanctity of big names we are all used to such as Google, X (Twitter), Starlink and Facebook now requires people within the USA and those outside the USA to increasingly seek a second opinion.
"There are non-american based alternatives emerging but they currently struggle against the big monopolies. and it will take time for consumers to readjust. "
President Donald Trump: Speaking freely by phone on Airforce 1. Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Further media information: Defend Campaign Media Office / Jason Tanner 07941 433598 or hello@defendUK.uk
Additional information
The defend Campaign for free speech originated in the UK but with global significance in protecting modern democracies in the USA, European Union (EU) and beyond.
Defend's aims are to: push back on today's threats to free speech; expose manipulation; strengthen media literacy; support independent journalism; and to help the ordinary citizen understand how information is shaped, filtered, and weaponised.
Defend was launched in London as the defend uk campaign for fairer free speech as documented at www.defendUK.uk and within its Manifesto to Protect at www.defendUK.uk/manifesto
Media & Communications ownership
Defend has additional information about ownership of the media and communications systems on its website. Who owns the media and the technology behind it?
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