When I first heard that Google wasn’t going to auto-complete searches for Bit-torrents and other file sharing methods I was pleased. But then it became clear that it was less a matter of taking an anti-piracy stance, and more about satisfying the corporate interests of those who feed Google loads of cash.
So this image was very telling – and it also shows where the priorities are at Google … if you have the cash, you get to set the moral compass.
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I have loved technology for as long as I can remember - and have been a computer gamer since the PDP-10! Mobile Technology has played a major role in my life - I have used an electronic companion since the HP95LX more than 20 years ago, and have been a 'Laptop First' person since my Compaq LTE Lite 3/20 and Powerbook 170 back in 1991! As an avid gamer and gadget-junkie I was constantly asked for my opinions on new technology, which led to writing small blurbs ... and eventually becoming a reviewer many years ago. My family is my biggest priority in life, and they alternate between loving and tolerating my gaming and gadget hobbies ... but ultimately benefits from the addition of technology to our lives!
Guns aren’t illegal but their use can be. No how does that relate to tech? Well, Bit Torrent ISN’T illegal but it’s USE can be. Bit Torrent is a tool that CAN be used to download unauthorized content. However, it can and IS used for legal means as well. I use Bit Torrent to get the new Ubuntu and other distros on the first day it comes out. Bit Torrent works well for those kinds of uses. That’s why people use it for downloading unauthorized content.
In this case, all we’re talking about is auto-complete. You can do the thing we all USED to do and hit enter….and Google will search it anyway. Google is censoring NOTHING here.
Now if you hit enter and can’t find information about Bit Torrent or any other number of things they block in auto-complete, then people can complain.
Joel, on one hand I agree with you, but I think you must still ask the question “Why”. Why bother blocking the auto-complete if you are going to do the search anyway? Something still doesn’t smell right to me. I don’t know why they bother blocking the auto-complete but it seems either both should be blocked or both techniques should be open.
And you are wrong – if they block ANY method, then they are in fact perform some level of censorship because they are (albeit in a very small way) increasing the barriers to completing that search – making you go one layer deeper to complete the request. That’s still censorship – controlling how and when you can access information.
But see – this way they can say ‘we aren’t censoring’! But in reality, differential treatment is essentially ‘search discrimination’ at the very least. Not quite censoring – but since we know it is based on RIAA/MPAA $$$ being fed to Google, it is still an important issue.
I need to say something here…..
Guns aren’t illegal but their use can be. No how does that relate to tech? Well, Bit Torrent ISN’T illegal but it’s USE can be. Bit Torrent is a tool that CAN be used to download unauthorized content. However, it can and IS used for legal means as well. I use Bit Torrent to get the new Ubuntu and other distros on the first day it comes out. Bit Torrent works well for those kinds of uses. That’s why people use it for downloading unauthorized content.
In this case, all we’re talking about is auto-complete. You can do the thing we all USED to do and hit enter….and Google will search it anyway. Google is censoring NOTHING here.
Now if you hit enter and can’t find information about Bit Torrent or any other number of things they block in auto-complete, then people can complain.
Found this: GD Quickie: Can You Guess Who Is Buying Google’s Priorities? http://tinyurl.com/4t36mkk
Joel, on one hand I agree with you, but I think you must still ask the question “Why”. Why bother blocking the auto-complete if you are going to do the search anyway? Something still doesn’t smell right to me. I don’t know why they bother blocking the auto-complete but it seems either both should be blocked or both techniques should be open.
And you are wrong – if they block ANY method, then they are in fact perform some level of censorship because they are (albeit in a very small way) increasing the barriers to completing that search – making you go one layer deeper to complete the request. That’s still censorship – controlling how and when you can access information.
Good points. My thing is if you are going to censor it, then do it. Don’t do it half way.
But see – this way they can say ‘we aren’t censoring’! But in reality, differential treatment is essentially ‘search discrimination’ at the very least. Not quite censoring – but since we know it is based on RIAA/MPAA $$$ being fed to Google, it is still an important issue.
LOL – I agree! They either should have gone all the way or not done it at all. Now all they’ve managed to do is cause a lot of speculation!
I think they still ought to explain why the partial roadblocks!