I just read an article about Google on the Financial Times Website.
What peaked my interests were these quotes from Google’s CEO Eric Schmidt:
We are very early in the total information we have within Google. The algorithms will get better and we will get better at personalisation.
The goal is to enable Google users to be able to ask the question such as ‘What shall I do tomorrow?’ and ‘What job shall I take?’
We cannot even answer the most basic questions because we don’t know enough about you. That is the most important aspect of Google’s expansion.
Recapitulating, I’d say it this way:
We are Google. Resistance is futile. You will be data mined. We will add your informational distinctiveness to our database. Your culture will adapt to be serviced by us.
Is it just me being paranoid, or does anyone else also think that Google is overdoing it?
Just think about it for a moment.
Do you use Google.com as your main search engine?
Do you surf the web with the Google Toolbar?
Do you use Gmail to store your emails?
Do you read feeds via Google Reader?
Do you stay in contact with friends by Google Talk?
Do you watch videos at youtube?
Do you use Google Earth to look at places?
Do you blog at blogger.com?
Do you display ads from Google Adsense? Hey, I do.
Do you Check your stats with Google Analytics?
There are a lot more things you can do with Google. And everything you do leaves data for Google to analyze.
Is it used to enhance their service? Maybe.
Can it be used in a bad way? Yes.
Do I want one single company do know that much about me? Heck, no!
9 replies on “We are Google. Resistance is futile. You will be data mined.”
Yes, the Goog is going to know all about us, which is kinda amusing given how little google actually lets the rest of the world know about it. Can we escape their data mining? Only if you want to disappear from the digital world – which is obviously going to be difficult given the fact that you are a blogger…
In some ways i actually look forward to a more transparent society, where in we can say to people claiming to represent the silent majority, “Prove it”.
Transparency is almost always good, but only if it is done both ways. A transparent customer for nontransparent companies sounds creepy.
Not paranoid at all! But I’d rather Google did it than Microsoft if anyone’s going to do it I think!
I agree, partially. Microsoft is often seen as evil, so people’s awareness is higher. Google is still seen as the friendly, lighthearted bunch – more of a lifestyle than big business. I hope that doesn’t turn out to be a dangerous mindset.
My Bumpzee Community :: Something New…
When I signed up for bumpzee, I created my own community, it was mainly to give me something new to read on a friday afternoon when I’m dragging out the afternoon in the office. I considered the fact that other people may be looking for the same …
It’s sort of alarming, but I fear for those people who have more to lose than I. So no, I don’t think you’re being paranoid at all, Tobsy. (Oh, and you can add feedburner on that Google list, too!)
I agree with Tobsy, a transparent customer for nontransparent companies is creepy and you can’t get much more nontransparent than Google.
I was just saying to a business associate today that Google is very similar to the Borg from Star Trek!
* http://www.google.com.au is my main search engine
* I use Gmail for some of my personal emails
* All my feeds are read via Google Reader
* Google Adsense is my biggest source of income by far and they also do my traffic monitoring via Google Analytics
I use vivisimo as my main search engine and don’t use Gmail. But Google is still part of my everyday life.
Well, we can always hope for the best, I guess. But it can’t hurt to expect the worst. Just in case.
I have a similar post about this suject on my site.
I also agree with you. This is a little tooooo much information that G is seeking on me.
Don