Mar 22 2008
The Google Hypocrisy
In a recent press release Google Inc., the world’s leading search engine, said “it was concerned about the free flow of information on the Internet if Microsoft Corp. were to succeed in acquiring Yahoo Inc…….“. If this is not hypocrisy than what is?
If there ever was a company that in theory could control the free flow of information it is Google. Yes that darling little company we all love and praise has the potential to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. In a fantastic article written in Feb 2006 Chris Taylor has the courage to start “Imagining the Google of the Future”. In the article Mr. Taylor asks
“What kind of company will Google become in the coming decades? Will it succumb to hubris and flame out like so many of its predecessors? Or will it grow into an omnipresent, omnipotent force–not just on Wall Street or the Web, but in society?”
There are obvious social and moral obligations to those that control the flow of information. There is also huge money and big business on the line. If you are a small local travel agent what are the odds you can compete for a highly competitive search term like “book a trip”. The odds are stacked against success for many reasons including funding, man-power, and technology. Top paid results always go to the highest bidder and natural search engine results are dominated by only the biggest corporations in the travel industry. Every time there is a shift in Google’s search engine algorithm top placements in competitive search terms will undoubtedly change hands. With such money and business on the line could Google give in to such temptation? I can dream up more than a few conspiracies.
Because of Google’s relevance and potential it has a great responsibility to the Age of Information. According to the comScore Core Search Report September 2007 Google sites process 57% of all search related traffic with Yahoo as the closest competition at 23.7%.There are no signs that Google’s continued dominance will slow in the coming years. There are many analysts that predict Google will gain up to a 70% market share.
It should be a concern to all that Google has made a point to clearly state its position against this merger. With so much at stake it will be interesting to watch the future unfold. We all need to consider these facts and how it could potentially impact us all personally in the future. It could influence the information your daughter or son finds for a research report or it may give your business competitor an advantage. On thing is certain, for the time being Google clearly is on top of the information food chain.
May be there will be time that google’s policies will be controlled or at least influenced by the law makers, when it comes to change the Algo.
As when it becomes the bread and butter or a rich story by having few top keywords positioning by employing hard work and investments and soon you see positions got down without knowing any reasons (may be due to Algo upgrade or whatever). and business starts declining. Lot of people or employees may be associated with that business. What can they Do? Can they appeal or object? after all it affected many’s life!