Google is a company that it's hard not to admire. In the last decade it's swept aside all rivals, becoming so powerful on the internet that it's almost synonymous with it.
And yet, for a company that prides itself on its 'don't be evil' slogan it has found itself under increasing amounts of scrutiny for the way it operates.
Why? Because this is a company that wants to know every single detail about you, from the contents of your email to your exact location at any given moment.
Information is power
Sharing that content can be massively useful – allowing each and every one of us to find the most relevant information. Be it an internet query or a frantic search for an after-work pub on a Friday night, a local movie screenings or what your friend got up to at the weekend.
But sharing that information is also incredibly valuable to the company that holds it – and at the moment it is Google that is collecting the world's data and storing it away in its massive banks of hard drives. Information is power and, as every superhero fan will tell you, with great power comes great responsibility.
So when Google finds itself under fire for choosing your followers for you on its newly launched Buzz, or because its CEO suggests that if you don't want to share your web habits it's probably because you are doing something you shouldn't, you can't really blame people for asking 'who decides what's evil?'.
It comes down to trust. Do you trust Google with your information and do you trust it to use it in the right way? Is Google a benign facilitator or a potential dictator? We'd love to know what you think.
Your comments (11) Click to add a new comment
windymiller
March 2nd 2010
11. @ healydave
"i'm not liking the power they have in deciding what ranks highly, especially if it benefits them and detriments their competition!"
Correct me if I'm wrong,but,aren't you an apple fan? See anything ironic in that statement?
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iiwmaster
March 1st 2010
10. Google Latitude + Google Ocean = Real-time Fishing LBS Contents
Have you heard about Real-time Fishing LBS Contents? We have proposed this Service Model to Google over 4 years ago. Real-time Fishing LBS Contents is Location Based Service for IPTV, WiMAX, Mobile. This Service Model was created in 2002 by I&IWorld. I&IWorld's located in South Korea. As you know, there're many people enjoy fishing in the world(about 5 hundred million). I&IWorld's Real-time Fishing LBS Contents is like these.
*Main Functions*
1.The underwater topography and 3D views with fishing spots
2.Real-time fishing points tracing by GPS and angling direction guide
3.Service the real-time fishing condition about fishing place(weather, water temp, depth etc)
4.Angler Social network(such as Second Life)
Everyone knows that Google motto is, 'Don't be evil.' Is it all right? Visit http://www.koreacontent.org/weben/index.jsp, and type 'Real-time Fishing LBS Contents'. Search http://www.koreacontent.org/co/i/iiworld/index.html. If you need more information, please send your email address.
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campbell2644
February 26th 2010
9. Google is king for searches but I don't like putting all my eggs in one basket. Good though Chrome is I use Firefox,good though Gmail is I use Zoho etc etc.
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healeydave
February 26th 2010
8. I like most people started using google because the search page was uncluttered and made a nice page whe you wanted to do a simple quick search instead of trying to find the search entry in the middle of a load of adverts.
Now they are becoming a Goliath of a company, and they have lots of fingers in lots of other pies, i'm not liking the power they have in deciding what ranks highly, especially if it benefits them and detriments their competition!
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mabtycoon
February 26th 2010
7. I have gmail and it rocks. But i make sure my browser, news/review services and operating systems are all independant of one another (as much as possible)- too much power or information in one place is just dangerous, same as too much reliance on one thing. Google will continue to expand, but if theres only one person giving you your net operating system, browser, mail, reading/interest suggestions, news and the information you use to navigate daily life, you lose diversity and thats not good.
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anmont
February 26th 2010
6. Thinking how much data Google stores about me (or on my behalf) is a little daunting, but I guess that if I really cared what Google could do with that information I would have read every single usage agreement more carefully.
The only warranty is that Google has to rely on the trust given by its users, or in a matter of days it would have no data at all.
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corin
February 26th 2010
5. I think my favourite thing about this article was this advert sat just a few cm to the right of it:
http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/imgad?id=CL3RhPrL4aTrRBCsAhjvATIIvz37ami7y2c
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nicolasmerritt
February 26th 2010
4. Given the power Google has, I'd quite like not to have to rely on the goodwill of the current management or shareholders when it comes to issues of trust. I'd like to see some kind of legal obligation now.
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rimscar
February 26th 2010
3. probably got far less to worry about with google than with our own or our "allies" governments, law makers and police.
It's a lot harder to change Big Brother Bureacracy than it is search/email provider....!
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blueskythinker
February 26th 2010
2. Google have brought so much to the web and how we use the web in our everyday lives it's hard not to be impressed with what they have achieved. Am I worried about how much data they have on me? No, as long as they can use that data in an app that helps my life in some way - Maps, Reader - I am happy for them to have it all
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calcio
February 26th 2010
1. I think I'm beyond worrying about it now. Google already knows my inside leg measurements and mother's maiden name. I might as well sign over power of attorney and hope that they mean it when they say that they won't be evil.
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