5 September 2008
Does Google need to grow up?
Photo by Christine
It was September 7th 1998 when Google was first incorporated a privately held company and so come Sunday, Google will be 10 years old. I know a few 10 year olds - some more annoying than others. The annoying ones either complain when they don’t get their own way or get their own way by bullying the children smaller than them.
But what type of 10 year old is Google?The lovely, quiet, amicable type or the ‘bully boy’ type?
Let me help you out with some stories from times gone by:
- Aged 8, Google censors itself for China (BBC)
“Leading internet company Google has said it will censor its search services in China in order to gain greater access to China’s fast-growing market.”
- Aged ?, Google uses a persistent Google to collect your data (Google)
“We may use personal information to provide the services you’ve requested, including services that display customized content and advertising.”
- Aged 10, Google ordered to give your data to Viacom in dispute (AFP)
“A US judge has ordered Google to expose to Viacom the video-viewing habits of everyone who has ever used YouTube in a decision condemned by the Internet giant and privacy advocates”
- Aged 8, Google struggles to combat click fraud (CNET)
“Industry reports say fraudulent clicks range from about 14 percent to as high as 20 percent of total clicks”
I could go on and on - what about StreetView invading privacy, concerns over Google’s environmentally friendlieness and much more. In fact there is a whole Wikipedia article titled Criticism of Google.
But of course we should not forget the good. Gmail, Docs, Calendar and other apps are invaluable tools for many people. Adwords and Adsense are a source of income to huge numbers of individuals and business. And of course, search - that which made Google famous, has made it easier than ever to find the information we need very quickly.
So what type of 10 year old is Google? Has Google stayed true to its motto ‘Don’t be evil’? Does Google need to change as it grows up?
I’m pretty sure that if you’re reading this blog then like me you love Google. But I’m also sure that you don’t think Google is perfect. There must be *something* you’d like to see Google do differently in the next few years? I not talking about things like ‘Please make app x have functionality y’ but some change in Google’s attitude or the way they do things?
As an advertiser, I’d love to see Google start to let advertisers have direct contact with teams around Google other than just their sales team e.g. letting advertisers and website owners talk to the Analytics team or the Google Maps team rather than forcing us to exchange emails with an account manager who passes the query on the the anonymous technical person who replies back (anonymously) via the account manager.
How would you like to see Google grow up?
2 Comments currently posted.
batch says:
Recession Proof says:
Interesting information, I love reading anything Google Adwords related.
Google, along with Microsoft and Yahoo!, should be doing more to avoid meeting the censorship demands of the Chinese Government.
Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary General said:
‘And of course, the information society’s very life blood is freedom. It is freedom that
enables citizens everywhere to benefit from knowledge, journalists to do their essential work, and citizens to hold government accountable. Without openness, without the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers, the information revolution will stall, and the information society we hope to build will be stillborn.’
Be a force for good!
http://uncensor.com.au