Matt Cutts to the Pentagon

[iamlost]

Matt Cutts, Google's lately ever on sabbatical former webspam engineer and webdev front man, is now taking leave from Google to join the Defense Digital Service at the Pentagon.

Over the last couple years, I’ve seen more and more people in technology trying to make government work better. They’re idealists who are also making a large impact. These are people that I respect–some of them worked to fix healthcare.gov, for example. From talking to many of them, I can tell you that their energy is contagious and they’re trying to improve things in all kinds of ways.

I want to see whether I can help too. So for the next few months, I’ll be taking a leave from Google. I’m joining the US Digital Service family, specifically the Defense Digital Service at the Pentagon. I’ll be moving out to Washington, D.C., as part of the change. If you’re in the area, please say hello! And if you’re interested in the US Digital Service, you can find more information at usds.gov.

[mattcutts.com ]

[engine]

Interesting development there. I'm sure Matt's experience and intelligence will bring great benefits to the Defense Digital Service at the Pentagon.

[toidi]

Interesting spin on working for the war department. I guess it makes his conscience feel better.

[tangor]

I'm sure his weekly reports will be as entertaining and disformative as his g stuff was.

[lawman]

Good to know that there'll be at least one person at the pentagon who won't be evil.

[keyplyr]

Matt Cutts... to join the Defense Digital Service at the Pentagon.

They need some innovation.

[J_RaD]

Just google getting deeper and deeper into the gov.

[JS_Harris]

Google is gov in most online matters. I offer you Eric Schmit's new company using Google data [qz.com...]

I trust Matt Cutts. I don't necessarily believe everything he says but that's because I believe everything should be tested and retested first hand. He's proven to hold the 'don't be evil' ideal closer to heart than others, and he takes responsibility for things well, good or bad. He's a grand master at secret keeping, but he won't intentionally steer you wrong, at least he didn't with Google.

Congrats Matt.

[edited by: lawman at 1:00 pm (utc) on Jun 24, 2016]

[J_RaD]

I've always found Matt Cutts to talk in circles and in the end say nothing.

[J_RaD]

[googletransparencyproject.org...]

pretty deep

[JS_Harris]

He says as much as he can, I'm sure. If you look at Matt's history with the whitehouse, and the people he visits, you can watch what it is they do for the whitehouse and in general to get an idea of the areas Matt is/was active in.

example: in Sept 2011 Matt had a meeting at the whitehouse with Danny Weitzner [csail.mit.edu...]

Danny has been active on the privacy front and has published articles such as 'Keys under doormats: mandating insecurity by requiring government access to all data and communications'. At face value neither Matt, nor the people he's meeting with, have anything but the end user's interests(privacy etc) in mind. We, as 'regular people' have limited access but what's there is good news. I'm happy for Matt, seems like a good move and a good fit for him.