In the earlier days of the Internet, finding information regarding specific subjects was quite an adventure, and became more difficult as the number of websites multiplied each day. To make this chore easier, information-gathering programs called “search engines” were invented and deployed on various websites. These programs held out the promise of creating an index of the entire Internet, presenting the contents in an easy-to-search format.
Search engines and websites such as AltaVista, Infoseek, Lycos and Hotbot were among my favorites in the early 1990s. However, as the Internet expanded, it became clear that no single search engine was really up to the task of indexing the entire Internet, as one engine would discover information that another engine would miss. “Meta-search” websites such as SavvySearch (dead in 2000) and SearchHound.com (now a pathetic spyware propagator) tried to fill in the gaps, allowing searchers to use multiple search engines from the same site. As the Internet became more and more vast, thorough searching became more and more cumbersome.
Then came Google.
Incorporated in 1998 by two computer-genius Stanford University students working out of a friend’s garage, Google quickly became the search engine of choice. Google’s easy-to-use search technology was clearly superior to any other, and their cheerful, laid-back image endeared them to many information gatherers. Their motto, “Don’t be evil,” led many to regard Google as “the good guys,” guardians of privacy, promoters of openly-available information, free from greedy corporate intentions and governmental entanglements. As Google grew to become the Internet’s largest and most powerful company, and, as its founders became multi-billionaires, something, somewhere, went horribly wrong.
Along with becoming a repository of much of the Internet’s information, Google has also built a massive database of personally identifiable information about all of its users. The simple act of performing a Google search leaves behind a trail of clues that can easily be traced directly back to the searcher. Allegedly gathered for marketing and “other business purposes,” this personal information gives Google considerable clout in this, the Information Age.
With Google taking the lead, companies such as Yahoo and Microsoft’s MSN have also accumulated huge databases full of personally identifiable information. Sadly, none of these Internet mega-companies have proven to be above collaborating with sleazy government despots. Google, Yahoo and MSN have freely provided massive amounts of personal information to numerous oppressive governments, with the result being that political dissidents have been thrown into prison around the world. Google also uses its search technology to actively censor information provided to countries such as China, Germany and France. Whatever pretensions Google may have had as the friendly, free and “not evil” search engine have long been overtaken by the love of money. Do you really think that, given the right circumstances, things will be any different in the United States?
Don’t believe me? Go to www.google.com and search for “Google censorship China Germany France” (without the quote marks, of course). Then, search for “Google political dissidents.” Finally, search for “Google bans spacewar.” You may be surprised to see that, in addition to all else, Google has already worked to prevent the viewing of certain “Google-incorrect” websites by citizens of the United States.
To quote anti-censorship activist and programmer Seth Finkelstein, “Contrary to earlier utopian theories of the Internet, it takes very little effort for governments to cause certain information simply to vanish for a huge number of people.”
For what may be more thorough (or, less prejudiced) search results, try out metacrawler.com, altavista.com and surfwax.com. For search websites that are more privacy-friendly, check out scroogle.org and blackboxsearch.com. To my customers whose web browser’s homepage I set to Google, I apologize. Never again.