Evil Google? Can the Search Engine Be Moral? - What is Google Talking About?
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In the earlier article, it sounds like Eric Schmidt had tried to clean up Google’s records that revealed too much about him:
Schmidt discovered his own home phone number through Google, but said he was able to remove it by filling out Google's standard form…“Google does not discover things that are not public,” said Schmidt…“Many people are disturbed to find their home phone number. But we found it because it was a public piece of information.” (source)
So, Schmidt is perfectly comfortable with the privacy issues. Not only that, he cleaned up the personal information he didn’t like and had it removed from the search engine. Google expects everyone to police their own internet ego. Apparently, it’s so easy that anyone can get their information removed if they want to. And he did.
I really hate to think Google would blacklist CNet simply for using their search product on an executive (who had already cleaned up his personal information) and reporting the results. This is something everyone can search for at will; all the information is from a “public piece of information.” Right, Mr. Schmitt? After all, the very premise of their company is:
Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. (source)
There is no clause saying, “except when you use it on our company and employees.” So Google’s move seems to send one fairly clear message to everyone: we will not let you criticize our services.
This doesn’t mean Google is making deals with the devil or throwing away users’ concerns entirely, but it shows that the search engine is not managed by a crowd of do-gooders purely bent on universal information sharing and world peace. Schmidt may be concerned with his own privacy represented on the search engine, but has made no indication that he is thinking about anyone else’s. The company would rather send an intimidating message to news sources than address privacy concerns in a professional manner.
And is contradicting the stated purpose of your business and blocking constructive feedback evil? Well, it’s certainly not good. And this isn’t the only time Google has responded in a questionable way.
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