Standing Up for Google in the UK
January 24, 2012
An imaginary conversation is at the heart of “The Google Dialogues: Search Neutrality” at ComputerWorldUK.
Writer Alec Muffet stands against censorship, and feels that attempts to control Google and its search algorithm fall into that realm. There are competing products out there, he points out; Google is not to blame if users eschew the alternatives.
Responding to criticisms of Google from PICTFOR, the UK’s Parliamentary Internet Communications and Technology Forum, Muffet envisions himself discussing search neutrality with such a critic. Here’s an excerpt:
“So why not create your own search engine that is better and promote that? Or use Bing? Or support Duck-Duck-Go which is tremendously ethical?
Because Google are here, they’re wrong and they need to be fixed.
Yes, you said that. So Google should listen to you regards how to order their search results?
Yes.
Why?
Because their ordering is not fair and it promotes their own content, such as Google+!
And… ?
…and we have to use Google because it’s a monopoly!
But it’s not really a monopoly. . . .”
. . .And on it goes. It’s an interesting thought experiment, and I recommend checking it out. The author’s point of view deserves some consideration.
Responses to Google’s great influence seem to be fluid and situational. It us no wonder, then, that the company continues to push at boundaries and venture into murky territory; they know their gains are likely to outweigh any punishments.
Cynthia Murrell, January 24, 2012
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