Google's ex-CEO Eric Schmidt gave a speech on Wednesday at the Science Museum in which he outlined his vision for the web, and how much he believes it will change society in the future. According to Schmidt, the web is becoming “nothing and everything”. Schmidt, who now serves as executive chairman of the search giant, emphasized that there were many parts of the world that do not have access to the Internet yet. "The world wide web has yet to live up to its name. Put simply, to connect the world is to free the world."

Lebanon is aiming to boost its media and satellite broadcasting industries, the Telecoms Minister said at the Arab Satellite Communications Organization conference. Nicolas Sehnaoui said his ministry has been working toward “transforming Lebanon into an open media hub, where satellite television stations and production studios are set up (without difficulty) and are connected through brand new telecommunications networks.”

According to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, the freedom of the Internet is facing its greatest threat ever. In an interview published by Britain's Guardian newspaper, Brin said that the principles of openness and universal access are being squashed by governments in order to control populations around the world. "There are very powerful forces that have lined up against the open Internet on all sides and around the world," Brin said. "I am more worried than I have been in the past. It's scary."

According to the company’s new CEO, Twofour54 plans to be profitable by 2016. “We can’t ignore the fact that we want media to be a commercially sustainable business,” said Noura Al Kaabi, the incoming CEO who will replace Tony Orsten next month. “We will reach a point where we will be able to fund ourselves. If we continue doing what we are doing, with the same plans, 2016 is a year when we can start giving back.”

According to industry experts, brands in the Middle East have yet to harness the power of social media. "In terms of where we are compared to the rest of the world we are still playing catch up. Brands are using social media. But the question is how they are using it. It's one thing to get up on Facebook and start an account; it's another thing to say you're using social media within a business framework," said Preethi Mariappan, head of digital arts, TBWARAAD.