Skeezics: Google-pocalypse

Last week, Google released yet another new, innovative feature to add to their repertoire: when you do a Google search, the results of your potential, predicted searches are displayed for you to see as you are typing in the searchbar (see Paul Squire’s article on Google Instant Search for more information).  Yes, Google can, in a sense, predict the future.  This is just the latest in a series of recent free ‘Google gadgets’, from the Google calling feature in Gmail that allows you to call any phone in the US from your computer for free, to the free Google android cell phone operating system that is slowly but surely taking over the cell phone market.  Did I mention it is free?

With so many wonderful innovations being thrown at the consumer (for free), it is not surprising that Google has earned great consumer trust and enthusiasm.  But important questions need to be asked.  The question of privacy is a big one. It is hard to function in everyday life without using Google. As a result, Google knows a whole lot about us.  They can see my emails, my searches, and my interests.  They even know where I am: the GPS used in android phones tracks where I am at all times unless I go out of my way to deactivate it.  How much is too much?  Is consumer trust in Google warranted by what they provide, or nullified by what private information they have gathered about us?  Enter the debate!

About Evan Caughey

I am a 22 year old graphic design/creativity person who was born and reared in the wilds of Montana on a strict regiment of whiskey and bear wrestling. After completing most of high school I went and studied in India for two years, where I learned most of what I know now. Like how people of the subcontinent pronounce 'bowl' like 'bowel'. And other things that are important. After that, I came to Boston and started studying photojournalism at Boston University. This proved to be quite depressing, so I switched to advertising and became an alcoholic instead. (Just kidding.) I am now a Junior.

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