Google is not a babysitter.
Evgeny Morozov is right that the internet has a dark side, but when he says that Google should take even a tiny bit of responsibility for the reliability of the websites that turn up in its search results, he's endorsing censorship, undermining the individual's right to intellectual autonomy (i.e. one's right to make their own mistakes), and utterly betraying the spirit of the internet.
The internet is not a predominantly dangerous place. It does have dangerous elements and potential downfalls, like anything in the world that also offers vast benefits. If you're indiscriminate about who you interact with, or who you give your money to, you might get burned.
But how is that any different from the world at large that we wake up to every day? Free-minded adults choose where to place their trust, make their own decisions, and deal with the consequences.
That's life.
Nobody ever designed the internet to be a safe haven. Google says, "Here's what's out there. You decide." If you find that to be a scary proposition, then get out of the kitchen.
Evgeny Morozov is right that the internet has a dark side, but when he says that Google should take even a tiny bit of responsibility for the reliability of the websites that turn up in its search results, he's endorsing censorship, undermining the individual's right to intellectual autonomy (i.e. one's right to make their own mistakes), and utterly betraying the spirit of the internet.
The internet is not a predominantly dangerous place. It does have dangerous elements and potential downfalls, like anything in the world that also offers vast benefits. If you're indiscriminate about who you interact with, or who you give your money to, you might get burned.
But how is that any different from the world at large that we wake up to every day? Free-minded adults choose where to place their trust, make their own decisions, and deal with the consequences.
That's life.
Nobody ever designed the internet to be a safe haven. Google says, "Here's what's out there. You decide." If you find that to be a scary proposition, then get out of the kitchen.
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