Innocence lost: Google's
activities are of increasing concern.
Sueddeutsche
Zeitung, Germany
Ruthless Google: 'Time for Politics to Step
In'
"Google
has shown that it's more concerned with what is technically feasible than with
the privacy of its customers. … A lot of
information is too important to surrender to a single company. Unfortunately, Google's
rivals are faltering. Faced with this, it is only right that politics should
step in."
New
services from Google like Street View and Buzz send an alarming signal: the
search giant doesn't take its users and their desire for privacy seriously.
"Don't
be evil." The motto of Internet search engine Google sounds so harmless.
And yet the actions of the U.S. conglomerate - putting all of the world's
information on the Internet - are becoming increasingly alarming to politicians
and consumer advocates, particularly in Europe.
Whether
it's Google Street View, where anyone can cast a glance into their neighbor's garden,
or Google Book Search or their increasing market power, these concerns are
well-founded. No single corporate entity should command all of this information.
Microsoft
CEO Steve Ballmer once drew a beautiful analogy. As a "baby" in the
eighties, the software company was loved by all. In the nineties, it was feared
for its rowdy teenage attitude. And now the company, which often falls under
criticism because of its market power, is maturing into adulthood.
This
is the road Google now confronts: although initially looked upon fondly by
everyone, in the two decades of its existence the company has become increasingly
unpopular. Google may not mature at the expense of users.
PHILOSOPHY OF THE FEASIBLE
With
Google's service Buzz, the company has shown that it's more concerned with what
is technically feasible than with the privacy of its customers. Street View is
no different.
There
are certainly many people who have no problem with having their homes observable
from outside on the Internet - but for many others it's disturbing. Google pays
very little mind to such concerns. In the eyes of the company, whoever is
against Street View is a reactionary.
A
lot of information is too important to surrender to a single company.
Unfortunately, Google's rivals are faltering. Faced with this, it is only right
that politics should step in.
