1-10 from 73

"1-10 from 73 for "Björn van Roozendaal", the result of Googling my name. It seems to have become a new indicator for success. Who can not found with Google does not exist. It surprises me that when I talk about name googling so many people actually still don't use it. I use it when I get a new colleague so see what he/she is like, I do it when I have to meet somebody whom I don't know, I do it when I read an interesting article and I want to know more about the author. I do it when I talked to a press agency and want to know where my quotes have been published.

This morning I watched a documentary about Google. Due to the great amount of (personal) data which they collect Google is more and more subject of criticism. I might be naive, but somehow I do like the vision of Google: to make as much information as possible available for as many people as possible. Google seems to have become the victim of all criticism regarding the information era we now live in. Information is eassily accessible, and it is rather easy to find out things about somebody's life from whatever place in the world you are.

McDonalds was the reason for people becoming fat, Google is the reason for insecuring our personal privacy. I think these comments are too eassily made.

Of course Google should not make appointments with the Chinese government on what information should be censored. And of course it should be clear on what information is passed on to US secret services. But for me its a bit too easy to blame Google for this. We should look to governments and ask ourselves and them why they need such information.

Still I think it is good that these discussions take place. It is important for people to be aware about what happens with information they leave somewhere on the internet, and its good to discuss ethics when it concerns storing personal information. But it's too simple to only appoint one scape goat.