3. Extra Credit: Google and its power

Article: U.S. Government Requests For Google Users' Private Data Jump 37% In One Year, from the week of 10/1

http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2012/06/17/u-s-government-requests-for-google-users-private-data-spike-37-in-one-year/

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Google has become more than just a software and search engine company. With the data sets based on users of their content Google has become one of the most powerful entities in the world. With the United States government now requesting information for undisclosed reasons and Google having the ability to deny this information shows a power shift. Google now has control over information that the government has no way of retrieving and is increasingly worried about getting. This power shift does not only apply to Google, many of the large companies (most of them making or distributing technology) have a certain disposition and control over the common people that the government cannot hope to have. This control is fueled by a more modern knowledge of the working of current day situations and people as well as an obvious expertise on current technology and a loyal following of people. All of this power the government wants access to, but as Google has shown with its denial of access to private information, the companies actually hold an incredible amount of power. These companies also have access to large sums of money. The combined power of these companies is similar to Rockefeller and the power his empire held in the early 1900’s. The government is currently in a huge amount of debt and these companies could hold the key too a door out.

            The data that Google hold is also invaluable because of data sets and holds on user posted content because other countries want access to this information. Users can post political ideals and comments on Google without fear of these being taken down because that would violate free speech in America. Therefore people can post political comments and spread ideas without fear of their own government. The data sets on other countries are powerful agents against enemy states and this information is collected at a civilian level without regard to that country’s government. The article mentioned a case such as this when Google used information of China in an investigation.