Google's hypocrisy

Tim Burton · Post by **Tim Burton** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 1:06 pm

Isn't it ironic that Google keeps all sorts of information about each computer and each search, yet talks about the right to privacy when the US government asks only for the results of the searches and not even computer MAC addresses.

Also ironic, is that they let the Chinese government ban Fulan Gong and other pro-democracy groups, but get pissed at US supposedly violating rights.

This just proves that Corporate execs will sell their first born for a bigger Profit Margin.

Shorty Lickens · Post by **Shorty Lickens** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 1:14 pm

America is a free country. China is not.
Last I checked, google does not have a seat on the UN. They also have no statesmen. They are in no posistion to tell China how to do anything.
It is every Americans responsibility to question and correct his goverment. Chinese citizens dont have that right.

Amy · Post by **Amy** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 2:13 pm

While you make a good point, I have to ask:

Is the government asking for specifics or statistics? Is it saying, "We need to know what each individual is searching for and what they are finding" or is it saying, "In general, what types of websites are coming up during your users' searches?" I was under the impression that it was the latter, which I don't see the problem...?

Tim Burton · Post by **Tim Burton** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 3:35 pm

The government doesn't want to know who searches what, but what the search results are of a million random searches. It wants to find out if pornographers are setting up search results so if innonence searches are made, if porn sites come up.

Amy · Post by **Amy** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 3:59 pm

That's what I thought...so why is it a big deal? Who's privacy is that invading?

Shorty Lickens · Post by **Shorty Lickens** » Thu Jan 26, 2006 4:43 pm

Tim Burton wrote:The government doesn't want to know who searches what, but what the search results are of a million random searches. It wants to find out if pornographers are setting up search results so if innonence searches are made, if porn sites come up.

Thats goverment efficiency for you. All they had to do was ask.
YES!
Of course websites do that. Not just dirty ones either. Type in something common and popular and then hit search. I promise you will get results for things that are totally unrelated.

This reminds me of the year-long, multi-million dollar study that determined coffee, did in fact, wake you up in the morning.

Tim Burton · Post by **Tim Burton** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 12:12 am

Shorty Lickens wrote:America is a free country. China is not.
Last I checked, google does not have a seat on the UN. They also have no statesmen. They are in no posistion to tell China how to do anything.
It is every Americans responsibility to question and correct his goverment. Chinese citizens dont have that right.

No, the hypocrisy is that they say, "It is not the government's business to know what happens on our search engine." when regarding the US. When regarding China they say, "It is the government's business to know what happens on our search engine."

So it is hypocrisy as defined, "The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness."

So they believe in virtues of privacy when it suits them, but not when it doesn't. Basically, they sold their principles out for cash.

Tim Burton · Post by **Tim Burton** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 12:14 am

Shorty Lickens wrote:Thats goverment efficiency for you. All they had to do was ask.
YES!
Of course websites do that. Not just dirty ones either. Type in something common and popular and then hit search. I promise you will get results for things that are totally unrelated.

This reminds me of the year-long, multi-million dollar study that determined coffee, did in fact, wake you up in the morning.

No, they know that. The reason they want to know is because there is a lawsuit about pornography and minors that is in the courts. Part of the suit is about search engine results and the self-policing by pornographers. So it is something that everyone knows, but the court requires proof of.

This isn't a study on the sexuality of a fruit fly being fruity, but a court case in which this exact topic is coming up and direct proof/facts is needed.

Amy · Post by **Amy** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 7:39 am

Tim Burton wrote:
Shorty Lickens wrote:Thats goverment efficiency for you. All they had to do was ask.
YES!
Of course websites do that. Not just dirty ones either. Type in something common and popular and then hit search. I promise you will get results for things that are totally unrelated.

This reminds me of the year-long, multi-million dollar study that determined coffee, did in fact, wake you up in the morning.
No, they know that. The reason they want to know is because there is a lawsuit about pornography and minors that is in the courts. Part of the suit is about search engine results and the self-policing by pornographers. So it is something that everyone knows, but the court requires proof of.

This isn't a study on the sexuality of a fruit fly being fruity, but a court case in which this exact topic is coming up and direct proof/facts is needed.

Which brings me to my original question: Why is Google making a big deal of it??

Tim Burton · Post by **Tim Burton** » Fri Jan 27, 2006 4:56 pm

No, clue....hence the hypocrisy.