Does Google Know Too Much?
Written by Pablo Palatnik on August 31, 2007
Google is one of the world’s fastest growing companies in the world. It is the biggest powerhouse online, which is a planet of its own and dominating in the search market. They are hated by many, and loved by their loyalist.
The growth of Google is feared by many as the Economist reports, “Television networks, book publishers and newspaper owners feel that Google has grown by using their content without paying for it. Telecoms firms such as America’s AT&T and Verizon are miffed that Google prospers, in their eyes, by free-riding on the bandwidth that they provide; and it is about to bid against them in a forthcoming auction for radio spectrum. Many small firms hate Google because they relied on exploiting its search formulas to win prime positions in its rankings, but dropped to the internet’s equivalent of Hades after Google tweaked these algorithms.â€
Who should really fear Google? Companies or the consumer? Millions, (maybe billions) of people create Google accounts and use its search engine storing private information on a daily basis. Many anti-trust issues have been brought to the table such as far as how long the engine can store personal data.
The Economist reports, “…These data begin with the logs of a user’s searches (in effect, a record of his interests) and his responses to advertisements. Often they extend to the user’s e-mail, calendar, contacts, documents, spreadsheets, photos and videos. They could soon include even the user’s medical records and precise location (determined from his mobile phone).â€
A very near future entails Google collecting financial information such as the banking industry began in its day. Google has one major challenge ahead and that is to develop trust with users and companies alike.
Google has one option to make this possible, and that is to make its plans and strategies more transparent to users. Everything with Google seems to be a blueprint we have to uncover.
[**Added Sphinn Comments- Let's Hear What You Think...]
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10 Responses to “Does Google Know Too Much?”
Great Article!
By Astone Agency on Aug 31, 2007
I think we’ve seen this all before with Microsoft back in the 90s - today Google is big and evil, everyone has forgotten what happened and how they actually got where they are today.
By Sante on Sep 1, 2007
I seem to have a first-love type relationship with Google, but from reading from Matt Cutts and other Google employees I think we can sleep safe at night.
Google puts a lot into security of our information, I trust them and I think others should too.
The real question here is: when do we stop trusting them?
By TannerC on Sep 1, 2007
When you are checking your web based gmail and you see google knows you are talking with your buddies about buying a car so they show you relevant car ads… you know something’s up.
Adsense, google analytics, feedburner, gmail, youtube, google desktop and I ran out of breath but the list keeps going. There’s no way out.
By GotanRaider on Sep 1, 2007
Those are only the popular Google properties…Google has also aquired many companies, (i.e. i forget, i think its a telephone system company, or something of that sort) holding private information.
By SEMFan on Sep 1, 2007
Where TannerC is reassured by the words of a Matt Cutts, I have to take another view.
1. How high up in the strategy of the company are the empowered spokespeople? I’m sure people like Matt believe what they’re saying, but it’s often hard to see the long-term strategies of the company if you aren’t on the Executive Committee. There’s also the impact of shareholders.
2. There’s a double-edge: Empowered SE employees are at once a source of information, but as likely to be a source of propaganda (within reasonable limits as impacted by being market-traded).
By betweenstations on Sep 1, 2007
Google has no match, simply marvelous.
By Rubab on Sep 1, 2007
Not only is it necessary to consider what GOOGLE will do with all the data they’ve compiled; we also need to consider what others who can obtain that data will do with it. Few truly understand the power of data mining and the enormous amount of information those you would never imagine have and can obtain.
Every use of technology is a double-edged sword. Whatever can be used to “protect” us can also be used to “stalk” us. If you’re too young to remember the book 1984 you may want to check it out.
By flyingrose on Sep 2, 2007
flyingrose…..Absolutley correct. Technology is a double-edged sword…especially these google geeks. Like some of us that have posted, I trust them as well. How much? I still don’t know. But what do I know?….if my computer freezes, I shut it off and “restart”. And now with the “trend” of going after terrorism, Google probably have their hands in the mix…..so the question is: Do they trust us?
By jandres on Sep 4, 2007