I’m a fan of Google, always have been, but even I can tell that Google is well overstepping it’s bounds lately. First was the Google – China issue (which is still underway), you all remember that from my little bet right? This seemingly appears as a front for an NSA – Google partnership. Obviously since the NSA is involved not much information is available about the true intents and possible deals made with that little infringement on freedom. There is plenty of speculation, as well as many government conspiracy theories. This was one partnership that even got me thinking, but like a good little Google monkey, I pushed my fears aside on this one, even though the entire thing prompted EPIC to start an investigation into this matter.
Even more recently, Google has announced, and launched, “Buzz”. Buzz is Google’s new attempt at breaking into the social networking market, and they seem to be purchasing a few new companies as well as integrating existing social networks to help boost their success. Google Profiles is being pushed as well, a new way to use Google search to search through your friends Social networks and information just in case they might have posted somewhere something of value pertaining to your search. The idea of Google profiles isn’t bad, but the real world use is a bit asinine.
Next in line for Google is Google’s news about needing faster internet in the US and proposing a 1Gb fiber optic network and possibly entering in the ISP wars in order to push this. I’m extremely happy that finally someone is trying to push for fiber to home networks and not just sticking with the “last mile” fiber motto. However, the more concerning thing is Google becoming an ISP.
Gmail, Buzz, Google Voice, Google Wave, Google Profiles, Google Web-pages, Google Blogging service, Google IM, Google docs, Google Calendar, Google checkout, Google Phones, Google Books, Google Chrome (web browser and soon Chrome OS), Google web search with logging history which is also under fire and being asked for 2 years of data logging, and many many more. Google effectively controls and house’s more than it’s share of information and communications online, of which most is free for user’s. I appreciate and use many of the services Google offers, however I make no preconception that any of it truly is private. By itself, that is not that big of an issue for me, I’ve nothing much to hide and I realize how truly unsecure most information through any web provider or service really is. But that doesn’t mean there is information I want to be public or controlled by any one source.
Google’s partnership with the NSA is now becoming more alarming, as Google is heavily pushing to be become the world’s information storage bin, granting any rights to the NSA that’s not already in effect and scary enough, is truly just asking for problems. It’s pretty commonly recognized that National Security for any nation, especially Cyber Security, requires extraordinary and brilliant individuals. Most of the cyber criminals we hear about are Pirates and Hackers, usually bypassing copy-right protection, or hacking into servers like Twitter and launching DoS attacks. The type of guys hired by outfits like the NSA and the Chinese Government are the ones you don’t hear about. They are the people that develop the software and control many Botnet’s or find ways to hack TPM chips with house hold cleaners and rust removers. Providing people with any access to our Google Information as dangerous - even in a controlled industry like NSA - as these hackers is beyond scary.
Again I will recount, I was willing to let that ride unless more information became known, until I heard that Google was going to get into the ISP market. By their count, it’s only for a “testbed” and they are not intending to compete, but what kind of company puts down 1.3 billion for a fiber network and enters in a “test” ISP scenario without intent and staying there. Especially when ALL information used, obtained, viewed, or submitted online MUST first go through an ISP. We have come to realize that Google is all about information, and the control thereof. Selecting them as the gateway for this information, while having the NSA lurking in their bed, really is a rather frightening thought.
I’m not huge on conspiracy theories, even though I do like to embellish a bit. However it’s not hard to come to the conclusion that Google is entering worlds that would require FCC and FTC investigation and quite possibly go directly against their “do no evil” motto. Take from that what you will, but it looks ugly.
Google is going to be hard-pressed to remain on the good side, and keep their innocent appeal with the general public. They have started a “human rights” agenda and brought Google, the US government, and now Iran into the mix. Their Internet Freedom line of defense is extremely subjective while their are tempting fate with the NSA and jumping into the ISP market. I will be closely following this outbreak of information Nazism and look forward to watching Google walk this extremely fine line. With Apple watching and exacerbating every move Google makes I’m not sure how much of their business deals will remain secret.
No comments:
Post a Comment