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Former Opera CEO Calls Google Evil

FrgMstr

FrgMstr

Just Plain Mean
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Former CEO of Opera Software, says that it is time for Google to "return to not being evil." Now I do not think a day goes by that I do not see one of us "regular people" say pretty much the same thing. In fact it is said so often in the HardForum that it is almost a joke. When someone in a prominent position, such as Jon von Tetzchner, it carries a bit more weight. And while Tetzchner has an axe to grind seemingly, he still makes some very good points. Seens as though his Adwords account what turned off after he spoke out against some of Google's tracking policies. Well worth the read and outlines why many have been saying that Google needs to be regulated as a utility.


I had several interviews where I voiced concerns about the data gathering and ad targeting practices – in particular, those of Google and Facebook. They collect and aggregate far too much personal information from their users. I see this as a very serious, democracy-threatening problem, as the vast targeting opportunities offered by Google and Facebook are not only good for very targeted marketing, but also for tailored propaganda. The idea of the Internet turning into a battlefield of propaganda is very far away from the ideal.
 
Yes, lets regulate them as a utility, so all other options will be illegal! Want to have your own search engine? Nope, sorry, but you can "resell" the government regulated search results! Free market!! Ideas like this make me sick at the stupidity.

All because some guy has his panties in a bunch because Google told him to be able to use the ad service they need to make a EULA and a link to the EULA needs to be in the same frame as the download button. Even though Google explains this in their ad policies!

"Failure to be transparent about the functionality that the software provides or the full implications of installing the software; failing to include Terms of Service or an End User License Agreement; bundling software or applications without the user's knowledge; making system changes without the user's consent; making it difficult for users to disable or uninstall the software; failing to properly use publicly available Google APIs when interacting with Google services or products"
 
Opera was sold to a Chinese company. What makes this guy any better?
 
Agreed. Went from the underground IT nerd fav earoy 2000s to scary as hell
 
Sorry Opera but I toss you in to the trash can a long ago and never look back LoL so get over it.
 
Nothing to say while the money's flowing but turn off the spigot and suddenly Google is evil. There's a difference between growing a pair and taping them on later Jon.

Don't be evil to me is more like it.
 
He should act on his beliefs and stop giving Google power by using Blink. Until then he's just another hypocrite.
 
I'm wondering how man of you actually read the interview. I'm going to guess few, if any. He makes very good points, is eloquent about those points, and doesn't lay 100% of the blame on Google (it's just not that simple). He's also a very credible character who has done a lot to champion free browsing in the world of IE, and now Chrome.

Long story short, this IS a big problem. If you ask me, this country could use a major Constitutional amendment to protect our privacy. Of course, that could be torn down just like freedom of speech and the right to bear arms... but at least it would be enumerated into a document, and people could have the legal standing to fight back against privacy abuses.

If you haven't read the interview, you really should:

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/jon-von-tetzchner-opera-facebook-google
 
Interesting example of Google biasing searches to advance a (leftist) social agenda:

Do a Google search for 'American Inventors.'​

We, or at least I, long assumed a certain degree of objectivity in the search algorithms. Who would use a search engine if they knew that it would distort or bias the results? Obviously those assumptions are wrong.
 
I took the bait and searched google for American Inventors and all it returned was Americans who invented things.
 
Did the search too. Interesting indeed. Although I'm aware of Google filtering and skewing search results, just a bit sad it's on a larger level than we realize.

EDIT Apparently it's because American Inventors is 66% of the phrase African American Inventors. Searching US Inventors or United States inventors returns much different results.
 
Last edited:
Jim Kim said:
I get it now, it's from Tucker Carlsons crazy ass website. The Daily Caller http://dailycaller.com/2016/09/19/google-search-results-skewed-to-favor-black-americans/
Good propaganda.
Click to expand...

Actually I first saw this in this thoughtful article: https://townhall.com/columnists/alb...onservatives-prepared-to-be-censored-n2383024

Politically motivated technology companies dominate the tools that we use to access information and our channels of communication. They have the power and have started to use it to shape the public dialogue in both subtle as well as more obvious ways.
 
Coming from the company who are convinced the only way they can compete is through lawsuits (EU) and name calling. Good job, way to reinforce why I will never support your company.
 
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