Google’s Schmidt: technology wave leaving many behind

Google’s executive chairman, Eric Schmidt, warned that vast numbers of the world's population are missing out on the advantages brought by the Internet.

Schmidt said that about 2 billion people, less than a third of the world's population, have Internet access, and 1 billion have smartphones. "The World Wide Web has yet to live up to its name," he said. "Technology does not produce miracles, but connectivity, even in modest amounts, changes lives." Schmidt also warned about Internet privacy, saying the "lack of a delete button" online meant incriminating posts could spell disaster for unwary Web users. "If you upload a video of your young friend drunk without their permission, you may be ruining their life."