Is Google Evil?

[gunug]

Cory Doctorow, who is one of my favorite writers, has a new story out there where he speculates about a future in which Google turns to evil:

QUOTE

The story, published in Radar Magazine's latest issue, envisions a world in which Google turns into Big Brother. Customs agents grill travelers about their search queries, public places are swept by Webcams and officials look for terrorist connections in social-networking sites. All of this is made possible by Google's powerful search tools and the company's willingness to share its trove of personal data with the government.

-- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1190732388...us_inside_today

You can read the story itself at:

http://www.radaronline.com/from-the-magazi...e_control_1.php

[Gregg]

If they change their name to Google Green, watch out!

[weldiger]

QUOTE

Is Google Evil?

It all depends on whether you own their stock or not.
[also depends on whether the stock is paying the dividend you think it should.]

[kimmer]

Honestly, I don't think Google is any more evil than any other web company. Wasn't it Epaminondas (or maybe it was kelly or tacit?) that was always reminding us that there is no privacy on the web.

[sandbox]

1984?
It was seen on Boing Boing some time ago, the WSJ probably has an advertiser like MicroSoft who has an interest in knocking Google down a few pegs. Google is going into Fiber Optics, FaceBook and many other ventures, stepping on those with toes.