---
title: 'Beyond the Forest: Google and Facebook join DataPortability.org'
date: '2008-01-08T10:10:50-08:00'
type: post
word_count: 290
char_count: 1842
tokens: 377
categories:
  - Facebook
  - Google
  - MarshallKirkpatrick
  - Oregon
  - Portland
  - TheDalles
---

# Beyond the Forest: Google and Facebook join DataPortability.org

Now, granted, I try to keep my focus right here at home in the Silicon Forest. But I had the feeling that news about these two little Web companies—[Google](http://google.com "Google") and [Facebook](http://facebook.com "Facebook")—might, just might, have some repercussions for the local tech scene.

I’ll also defend this post by reminding you that The Goog’ has an installation in The Dalles.

Portland’s own [Marshall Kirkpatrick](http://marshallk.com "Marshall Kirkpatrick") broke the news this morning that [Google and Facebook are joining the Data Portability group](http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/goog-fb-data.php "Google and Facebook join the Data Portability Group"). And as indicated by [Marshall’s own admission](http://twitter.com/marshallk/statuses/576513372 "Marshall Kirkpatrick tweets about the news"), this is huge news. A bombshell, as it were.

Okay, that may be gobbledy gook techie speak to some of you. So, why is this so important?

> The non-participation of Google and Facebook, two companies that hold more user data and do more with it than almost any other consumer service on the market, was the biggest stumbling block to the viability of the project. These are two of the most important companies in recent history. What’s being decided now is whether they will be walled-garden, data-horders or truly open platforms tied into a larger ecosystem of innovation with respect for user rights and sensible policies about data.

For more information, read [Marshall’s post on Read/Write Web](http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/goog-fb-data.php "Google and Facebook join DataPortability.org"). For additional coverage, follow the story on [Techmeme](http://www.techmeme.com/080108/p72#a080108p72 "Techmeme coverage of Marshall Kirkpatrick").