Google, the ‘Information Mugger’?

On the 9th of June, an organisation few people had previously heard of, released a report branding Google as the worst offender on the web where user privacy is concerned.
This in turn, prompted a rather heart-felt response from Google’s Matt Cutts in his personal blog.

 This post is the result of a discussion thread, currently underway over at the Google Webmaster Help Group.

In fact, it more or less mirrors my own response therein:

 Ok… so now we all know that Google is an ‘Information Mugger’ who hits you over the head and steals your wallet.

I vote we turn our backs on Big Brother and start using the infinitely better (and obviously more privacy friendly) services of his two Little Brothers (Yahoo & MSN, if you hadn’t already guessed);-)
Their results are more relevant anyway, as any number of webmasters who rank well with them (but not Google) are willing to testify :-Þ

But wait!
Surely Google is the most considerate mugger in history?

Rather than administering a blow to the head, such as compromising or merely surrendering the information in the way some financial institutions or search engines have done during the past 12 months, or pick-pocketing you when you’re not paying attention in the way some ISPs do*, Google simply walks up to you, looks you in the eye and asks if it can have your wallet.
Not only that, it also tells you what use your wallet will be put to, should you decide to hand it over.

*The whole Experian/Hitwise thing made me shiver

You have a choice in the matter:
At no stage does anybody force you to surrender your wallet if you’re not happy letting go of it.

“You don’t like the privacy implications of the Google-Bar or some other Google product/service?”
“Don’t ‘king use it then…! Use the Yahoo or MSN bars. They’re much better anyway.”
“Better still… use Alexa! That’s real privacy, HONEST!” :-Þ

To quote one of my fellow Google Group users:
“The moment you exit your front door, Big Brother is watching.”
The UK now has one surveillance camera for every 14! residents.
“But it’s ok, because if you’ve done nothing wrong, you’ve nothing to fear.”

It’s all gone George Orwell in real life, so let’s stick our heads firmly into the sand and bleat on about how our privacy is being violated in Cyberspace.

To me, it does smack of a publicity stunt on the part of PrivacyInternational.

I can almost hear it:
“Hey, I know… let’s pick on the big guy and be really controversial. That’ll get ‘em talking!”

Had the report shown Google in the red with AOL & Yahoo, nobody would have paid any attention to the damn thing…
But no… The Big Bad Giant’s been branded as black (surely that’s racist in itself? ) and much worse than its main competitors.
We must all discuss that!

Mmmmm… taste the linkbait

And what do they mean by ‘Interim Rankings’ on their site anyway?
Have they published the report before it was finished?
That’s right… the full report isn’t due until September, so they have plenty of time to apologise.

Yes, granted, Google is a giant, but from what I can see, (another reference to a Google Group user, read the thread here); they’re being very transparent and open about what they do with the information they collect.
They also seem to be keeping it safe, unlike the Yahoos and Microsofts of this world, who need to change their underwear, the moment the U.S. Justice Department gives them a harsh look.

Sure, things can change and it may not always be this way, but at the moment Google is a giant more in Roald Dahl’s ‘Big Friendly Giant’ sense, than in the ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ way.