The video below is now making the rounds. It presents Google CEO Eric Schmidt as an evil ice cream vendor who “already knows your favorite flavors,” presumably from your search history and related data mining.
The video advocates a “do not track” list but uses Google as the focal point for that broader message. It’s obviously over the top. But the images and message will likely resonate with people who are concerned about tracking.
This presentation of Google as sinister plays into fears that the company “knows too much.” In fact Google has been more progressive about privacy and ad targeting than most of its peers.
My view is that Google needs to be concerned about things like this getting out and shaping impressions of the company in the public mind. Previously the debate about cookies, tracking and targeting was arcane and inaccessible to most people. This makes it much more “accessible,” though in a manipulative way.
Do you think exposure to critiques like this, framed as entertainment, will affect larger public attitudes toward Google?
September 2nd, 2010 at 7:10 pm
Hi Greg, I *loved* this from a sheer entertainment, over-the-top perspective. I think many people will view it for what it is, a parody. Of course there will always be some level of Google paranoia and this video definitely feeds into that. It will be interesting to see if it gains any traction. It will be hard for Google to combat this level of thinking with skeptics simply due to what they are, in fact, capable of doing and tracking to use to their advantage. I am curious if the same people that fear Google’s tracking are the same ones that embrace FourSquare or even Facebook.
September 2nd, 2010 at 7:15 pm
I think most will see this as satire. But I agree with you that Google should be concerned when commentary crosses into maliciousness. The worst part of this video was something that doesn’t happen, when the fictional character capriciously ”shared’ with the little girl the private data from her mom and dad. (libel?)
September 2nd, 2010 at 7:26 pm
Sure… people will see it as satire but it plays to Googlephoboa.
September 2nd, 2010 at 7:50 pm
[...] via Screenwerk [...]
September 2nd, 2010 at 8:04 pm
The Googlephobia is getting comical to say the least. Some are sincerely concerned with what Google has access to though I felt Eric Schmidt did a great job on his recent interview with CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo. His reassurance to the public that while Google had data on your searches that it wasn’t used in ways to necessarily be used against you as an individual. Google has done a fantastic job of analyzing and approving/disapproving World Governments’ requests for access to personal data on you as an individual. Look at what India is demanding as we speak? If Google bends and builds servers in India…what is the next step? Building servers and infrastructure in every country that demands it? My two cents….when countries such as India and China start making requests of this nature I can’t but help to wonder if it is for more than state-sponsored Intelligence gathering on the indigenous folks of their respective countries and more directly an attempt to get access to the technology that Google has created. Just a thought.
September 3rd, 2010 at 8:04 pm
Classic – loved it. His evil eyebrows are the best. Looking ahead, I do believe Google will have to deal with increased privacy concerns (perceived, more than reality – but just as potentially damaging). It the product of their companies continued expansion and influence in our daily lives. I will admit, moving to the Droid X had me very concerned; the required gmail account, the syncing with Google apps, etc. More recenlty, I’m more neurotic about my Google Voice account – but at the end of the day I’m willing to risk this in exchange for the convenience and superior technology. I’m also somewhat stubborn in that I’m holding out with my personal email (Yahoo) – it makes me feel more secure for some reason.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:59 pm
Google said they would do no evil. If you met someone and after talking to them, they said, “oh by the way, I won’t try to steal from you or do anything evil to you”, what would you think? What would be your first instinct? Or a good friend comes up to you and says, “oh by the way, I never tried to sleep with your girlfriend/wife. Just so you know. I’m just saying…”. I am not promoting tinfoil hats, I am promoting a google that is OWNED BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE. Not in the hands of some mega corp. Think about it Google lovers. Just think about it. For a company that says you don’t need to worry about privacy and you can trust them, they sure have a lot of secrets
Kind of makes you think. They don’t report earnings, they let insiders have access to information that is generated by US! for their personal use. Financial firms, governments, ad agencies, etc. YOU ARE THE INTERNET. YOUR INFORMATION AND INTERESTS ARE THE VALUE! How much stock did Google give you? You made them billionaires and you got a cookie. Gullible is the word that comes to mind. So for an email account and a search result, you will give away your profile and thoughts and interests. For a search results and an email. I know, wasting my breath. Maybe this will cause someone to be a bit more cautious or think twice or care about where the internet is going and who will ultimately control it. One thing looks certain, it won’t be the kool-aid drinkers, rather their masters. Unfortunately, the majority calls the shots. And those in the know have to get screwed with them, lol.
January 15th, 2011 at 2:14 am
Well, I just belive that google did the only thing that other company’s haven’t. Being honest. And ofcourse they can access information about us. But what use do they have in knowing your adress? Are criminals going to hack into google servers and learn the adress? No, they can just google it. LOL.Plus, these maby are “risks” we need to face, to use the worlds best search engine. Without google, internet is less…
May 1st, 2011 at 5:35 pm
Google maybe the best search now, time has a way of changing things. I did a search for this video and had to use Bing to find it……….