Google: A Conduit of Harm?

Google’s policies, in effect, aid and promote the distribution of unrestricted libel right across the Internet.  Should such irresponsible and reckless behaviour be grounds for Google’s exclusion from participation in the FCC Wireless auctions so that Google can be prevented from direct access to personal mobile phones?   

Only yesterday during a shocking report shown on the British television program Panorama, Ms Rachel Whetstone of Google, in a rather unsympathetic interview about the plight of children threatened with violence, appeared to insist that it was everybody else’s responsibility (except Google’s) to monitor brutality, bullying and any other unlawful activity on Google’s own websites.   It seems the protection of the young does not get much of a rating on Ms Whetstone’s or indeed Google’s list of priorities.

Unbelievably during the program, Google’s management were given clips of illegal activity that had been uploaded on to one of their websites “YouTube”.  Google’s considered response was that the videos, which were of children handling guns and attacking police cars, was acceptable subject matter and Google would neither remove it nor delete it. 

Google is well aware that any of content that they publish on any of their websites potentially may be complete and utter rubbish.  This Google acknowledge in Section 14, subsection 2, part (c) of their own Terms of Service:

14.2 (c) In particular, Google, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, and licensors do not represent or warrant to you that: any information obtained by you as a result of your use of the Services will be accurate or reliable

As well as the ability to deliver possibly life threatening “data” unchecked to almost anyone on the Internet, Google now would like to send “data” directly to hundreds of millions of people directly to their mobile phones.

With twice the amount of lobbyists in Washington as most and with access to mind boggling amounts of funding, it seems that in matters of slander and defamation, Google is in danger of building a conduit of harm unrivalled anywhere in the world. 

Many are now asking whether Google’s plans for access to personal mobile phones should be brought to a halt until Google put their house in order.  Unfortunately whilst uncertainty persists the damage goes on, both to individuals and commercial entities alike.  Nevertheless, firms like dotWORLDS are fighting to redress the balance.  If Google can’t or won’t monitor themselves, then eventually others will do the job for them.

The rules are starting to change.