Egyptian activist creates image issues for Google.

SAN FRANCISCO: A Google Inc executive who has become a hero of the Egyptian revolution is public relations gold for the Internet power, but analysts say the company must be careful not to overplay its hand.

Google marketing executive Wael Ghonim became the public face of the uprising that led to President Hosni Mubarak handing power to the army on Friday.

Ghonim was detained by security forces and came out swinging on his release, calling for Mubarak to step down.

When Internet access was shut down during an early phase of the Egyptian protests, Google engineers hacked together a way to allow Egyptians to use Twitter by dialing a phone number and leaving a voicemail message.

Despite its association with the events in Egypt, Google has not commented on the politics of the country s upheaval.

Instead, it has focused on values surrounding freedom of information and the Internet. "We re incredibly proud to see Googlers take a stand on those issues," spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker said on Friday, when asked about Ghonim.

That has played well for the company.

"This is going to get Google some positive publicity," said Rosabeth Kanter, a professor at Harvard Business School. But she added, "They have to be careful."

Consumers and businesses would love the tools for communication that Google supports and provides -- but less democratic governments might see Google as a threat.

"Google will not be their search engine of choice," she said. "You re going there to sell products and services, you re not going there to topple the regime."

Ghonim s ties to Google and the Internet have become part of his appeal.

"I always said that if you want to liberate a society, just give them the Internet," Ghonim said in an interview on CNN on Friday.

He helped create a Facebook page devoted to a victim of police brutality that helped spark the uprisings.

Muscat Press and Publishing House SAOC 2011

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